Condenser evaporator system for refrigeration systems

ABSTRACT

A decentralized condenser evaporator system includes (i) a condenser system positioned to receive a gaseous refrigerant from a centralized compressor system and configured to condense the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, (ii) a controlled pressure receiver positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant, (iii) an evaporator system including a conduit, an expansion valve, and a fan, and (iv) a controller. The conduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The expansion device is positioned between the controlled pressure receiver and the conduit, and configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerant that flows into the conduit from the controlled pressure receiver. The fan is positioned to facilitate providing a cooling operation to an area associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through the conduit. The controller is configured to control a stage of the condenser system and/or the evaporator system to maintain a desired level of the liquid refrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver and facilitate maintaining a system condensing pressure of the refrigeration system at a target system condensing pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/324,209, filed Apr. 18, 2016, and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/415,338, filed Oct. 31, 2016, both of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a refrigeration system andmore particularly to a refrigeration system having one or moredecentralized condenser evaporator systems and the control thereof.

Refrigeration utilizes the thermodynamic property of evaporation toremove heat from a process. When a refrigerant is evaporated in a heatexchanger (i.e., an evaporator), a heating medium that is in contactwith the heat exchanger (e.g., air, water, glycol) transfers heat fromitself through the heat exchanger and is absorbed by the refrigerant,resulting in the refrigerant changing from a liquid state to a gaseousstate. Once the refrigerant is in a gaseous state, the heat thereof mustbe rejected by compressing the gaseous refrigerant to a high pressurestate and then passing the gaseous refrigerant through a second heatexchanger (i.e., condenser) where heat is removed from the gaseousrefrigerant by a cooling medium, resulting in condensing the gaseousrefrigerant back to a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is thenready to be used again as a refrigerant for absorbing heat.

SUMMARY

One exemplary embodiment relates to a decentralized condenser evaporatorsystem fluidly coupled to a centralized compressor system of arefrigeration system. The decentralized condenser evaporator systemincludes a condenser system, a controlled pressure receiver, anevaporator system, and a controller. The condenser system is positionedto receive a compressed gaseous refrigerant from the centralizedcompressor system. The condenser system is configured to facilitatemodulating a mass of the compressed gaseous refrigerant condensed into aliquid refrigerant. The controlled pressure receiver is positioned toreceive and store the liquid refrigerant condensed by the condensersystem. The evaporator system includes an evaporator conduit, anevaporator expansion valve, and an evaporator fan. The evaporatorconduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from an outletconduit of the controlled pressure receiver. The evaporator expansiondevice is positioned between the outlet conduit of the controlledpressure receiver and the evaporator conduit. The evaporator expansiondevice is configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquidrefrigerant that flows into the evaporator conduit from the controlledpressure receiver. The evaporator fan is positioned to facilitateproviding a cooling operation to an area associated with the evaporatorsystem through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through theevaporator conduit into an evaporated gaseous refrigerant while theevaporator system is being operated in a cooling mode. The controller isconfigured to (i) control modulation of a stage of at least one of thecondenser system and the evaporator system to maintain a desired levelof the liquid refrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver of thedecentralized condenser evaporator system and (ii) facilitatemaintaining a system condensing pressure of the refrigeration system ata target system condensing pressure.

Another exemplary embodiment relates to a decentralized condenserevaporator system fluidly coupled to a centralized compressor system.The decentralized condenser evaporator system includes a condensersystem, a controlled pressure receiver, and an evaporator system. Thecondenser system is positioned to receive a compressed gaseousrefrigerant from the centralized compressor system. The condenser systemis configured to condense the compressed gaseous refrigerant into aliquid refrigerant. The controlled pressure receiver is positioned toreceive and store the liquid refrigerant condensed by the condensersystem. The evaporator system is positioned to receive the liquidrefrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The evaporator systemis configured to facilitate providing a cooling operation to a coolingzone associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of theliquid refrigerant flowing through the evaporator system into anevaporated gaseous refrigerant. A stage of at least one of the condensersystem and the evaporator system is selectively controllable tofacilitate at least one of (i) maintaining a desired level of the liquidrefrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver and (ii) providing adesired amount of cooling to the cooling zone.

Still another exemplary embodiment relates to a refrigeration system.The refrigeration system includes a centralized compressor system, aplurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systems fluidly coupledto the centralized compressor system, and a controller. The centralizedcompressor system is configured to compress an evaporated gaseousrefrigerant into a compressed gaseous refrigerant. Each of the pluralityof decentralized condenser evaporator systems is associated with arespective cooling zone. Each of the plurality of decentralizedcondenser evaporator systems includes a condenser system, a controlledpressure receiver, and an evaporator system. The condenser system ispositioned to receive the compressed gaseous refrigerant from thecentralized compressor system. The condenser system is configured tocondense the compressed gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant.The controlled pressure receiver is positioned to receive and store theliquid refrigerant condensed by the condenser system. The evaporatorsystem is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from an outletconduit of the controlled pressure receiver. The evaporator system isconfigured to facilitate providing a cooling operation to the respectivecooling zone associated with the evaporator system through evaporationof the liquid refrigerant flowing through the evaporator system into theevaporated gaseous refrigerant. The controller is configured to controlmodulation of a stage of at least one of the condenser system and theevaporator system to (i) maintain a desired level of the liquidrefrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver of each of theplurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systems, (ii) provide adesired amount of cooling to the respective cooling zone of each of theplurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systems, and (iii)maintain a system condensing pressure of the refrigeration system at atarget condensing pressure.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices and/orprocesses described herein, as defined solely by the claims, will becomeapparent in the detailed description set forth herein and taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of a refrigeration system including acompressor system and a decentralized condenser evaporator system,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a module of the decentralized condenserevaporator system of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the module of FIG. 2 configured in astandby mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the module of FIG. 2 configured in acooling mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the module of FIG. 2 configured in adefrost mode and a cooling mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a module of the decentralized condenserevaporator system of FIG. 1, according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7-10 are flow diagrams of a method for controlling a module of adecentralized condenser evaporator system to perform a coolingoperation, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method for controlling a module of adecentralized condenser evaporator system to perform a defrostoperation, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method for controlling a plurality ofmodules of a decentralized condenser evaporator system, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 13-17 are flow diagrams of a method for controlling adecentralized condenser evaporator system, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a module of the decentralizedcondenser evaporator system of FIG. 1 including a subcooler system,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a module of a decentralized condenserevaporator system including a subcooler system, according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various conceptsrelated to, and implementations of, methods, apparatuses, and systemsfor control of a refrigeration system having a decentralized condenserevaporator system. The various concepts introduced above and discussedin greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, asthe described concepts are not limited to any particular manner ofimplementation. Examples of specific implementations and applicationsare provided primarily for illustrative purposes. It should also beunderstood that the terminology is for the purpose of description onlyand should not be regarded as limiting.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the systems, apparatuses, andmethods disclosed herein relate to refrigeration systems having one ormore decentralized condenser evaporator systems and the control thereof.Each condenser evaporator system may include a condenser system, acontrolled pressure receiver, a subcooler system, and/or one or moreevaporator systems. Each condenser evaporator system may be fluidlycoupled to a remote compressor system that provides a pressurized,gaseous refrigerant to the condenser system thereof. A stage of thecondenser system may be selectively controlled (e.g., adjusted,modulated, increased, decreased; by controlling a condenser fan; bycontrolling fluid flow to a condenser; by controlling a fluid cooler;etc.) to condense a desired amount of the gaseous refrigerant to aliquid refrigerant which is then directed to and stored within thecontrolled pressure receiver. Each evaporator system may be fluidlycoupled to the controlled pressure receiver to receive the liquidrefrigerant. The subcooler system may be positioned downstream of thecontrolled pressure receiver and upstream of each of the evaporatorsystems. The subcooler system may be configured to maintain the liquidrefrigerant received by the controlled pressure receiver and provided tothe evaporators in a liquid state (e.g., prevents the liquid refrigerantfrom flashing into a gaseous state in response to a pressure dropbetween the controlled pressure receiver and expansion valves of theevaporator systems, etc.). A stage of the evaporator systems may beselectively controlled (e.g., adjusted, modulated, increased, decreased;by controlling an evaporator fan; by controlling an evaporator expansionvalve; etc.) to evaporate the liquid refrigerant to a gaseousrefrigerant to facilitate providing a cooling operation to air within azone associated with the evaporator system (e.g., a refrigerated area,etc.).

The condenser evaporator systems of the present disclosure may providevarious advantages over traditional condenser evaporator systems.According to an exemplary embodiment, the condenser evaporator system isconfigured to facilitate maintaining an operating liquid refrigerantlevel in the controlled pressure receiver within a liquid refrigerantoperating range by modulating at least one of the stage of the condensersystem and the stage of the evaporator system to control the flow ofrefrigerant into and out of the controlled pressure receiver (e.g.,under all load conditions, etc.). Modulating the stages of the condensersystem and/or the evaporator system may allow for an increased balancebetween the refrigerant flows going into and out of the controlledpressure receiver while minimizing open and/or closed operation of feedvalves (e.g., a high side supply valve, a low side suction valve, a hotgas condensing valve, etc.) between the condenser evaporator system andthe compressor system. Such continuous and stable flow between thecondenser evaporator systems and the compressor system facilitatescontrolling the capacities of the condenser system and the evaporatorsystem of each condenser evaporator system to assure a balanced, averageliquid level in all active controlled pressure receivers, whilemaintaining a minimum system condensing pressure, thereby increasing theefficiency of the compressor system and the refrigeration system as awhole.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, 18, and 19, athermal regulation system, shown as refrigeration system 10, includes acompressor system, shown as compressor system 20, a controller, shown ascontroller 60, and a condenser evaporator system (CES), shown as CES100, having one or more modules, shown as CES modules 102. In someembodiments, the refrigeration system 10 additionally includes a centralfluid cooler system, shown as fluid cooler 40. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the CES modules 102 each include a condenser system, arefrigerant reservoir, and one or more evaporator systems that allow theCES 100 and the CES modules 102 to be decentralized (e.g., rather thanthe refrigeration system 10 including a large, centralized condensersystem and liquid refrigerant reservoirs, etc.). According to anexemplary embodiment, the CES 100 allows for a reduction of an amount ofthe refrigerant (e.g., by 85% or more, etc.) within the refrigerationsystem 10 relative to traditional, centralized system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the compressor system 20 includes a refrigerantreservoir, shown as compressor accumulator 24, fluidly coupled to acompressor device, shown as compressor 22, via a conduit, shown ascompressor conduit 26. According to an exemplary embodiment, thecompressor 22 is configured to receive a gaseous refrigerant from thecompressor accumulator 24 through the compressor conduit 26 and compressthe gaseous refrigerant to increase the pressure and temperaturethereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the compressor 22 is fluidly coupled to theCES modules 102 of the CES 100 via a conduit, shown as hot gas (HG)refrigerant conduit 28, such that the compressor 22 may provide thecompressed gaseous refrigerant to each respective CES module 102, asnecessary. In some embodiments, the compressor 22 includes a singlestage compressor. In other embodiments, the compressor 22 includes amulti-stage compressor. In some embodiments, the compressor system 20includes a plurality of compressors 22 (e.g., a first, lower stagecompressor; a second, higher stage compressor; etc.).

As shown in FIG. 1, the compressor accumulator 24 is fluidly coupled tothe CES modules 102 of the CES 100 via a first conduit, shown as highside suction (HSS) conduit 30, and a second conduit, shown as low sidesuction (LSS) conduit 32. According to an exemplary embodiment, thecompressor accumulator 24 is configured to receive a gaseous refrigerantfrom the CES modules 102. By way of example, a first flow of gaseousrefrigerant may be received by the compressor accumulator 24 from theCES modules 102 (e.g., from controlled pressure receivers of the CESmodules 102, etc.) through the HSS conduit 30 and a second flow ofgaseous refrigerant may be received by the compressor accumulator 24from the CES modules 102 (e.g., from evaporator systems of the CESmodules 102, etc.) though the LSS conduit 32. The compressor accumulator24 may be configured to prevent liquid refrigerant from entering thecompressor 22 by separating any liquid refrigerant from the gaseousrefrigerant received via the HSS conduit 30 and the LSS conduit 32. Thecompressor accumulator 24 may then provide the separated gaseousrefrigerant to the compressor 22 via the compressor conduit 26 forcompression and delivery to the CES 100 (as described above).

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid cooler 40 includes a working fluidreservoir, shown as cooler reservoir 44, fluidly coupled to a pumpdevice, shown as cooler pump 42, via a conduit, shown as cooler supplyconduit 46. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cooler pump 42 isconfigured to receive a liquid working fluid (e.g., a liquidrefrigerant, liquid glycol, etc.) from the cooler reservoir 44 throughthe cooler supply conduit 46 and pump the liquid working fluid to theCES 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooler pump 42 is fluidly coupled tothe CES modules 102 of the CES 100 via a conduit, shown as coolingconduit 48, such that the cooler pump 42 may provide the liquid workingfluid to each respective CES module 102 (e.g., a CES module 102 that hasa plate/frame condenser, a shell and tube condenser, a shell and platecondenser, etc.), as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooler reservoir 44 is fluidly coupled to theCES modules 102 of the CES 100 via a conduit, shown as cooler returnconduit 50. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cooler reservoir44 is configured to receive gaseous and/or liquid working fluid from theCES modules 102 (e.g., from condenser systems of the CES modules 102,etc.). By way of example, a flow of gaseous and/or liquid working fluidmay enter the cooler reservoir 44 from the CES modules 102 throughcooler return conduit 50. According to an exemplary embodiment, thefluid cooler 40 additionally includes a cooling element (e.g., acondenser, a heat exchanger, a thermoelectric cooler, a fan element,within the cooler reservoir 44, etc.) configured to condense the gaseousworking fluid to a liquid state and/or reduce the temperature of theliquid working fluid received from the CES modules 102 via the coolerreturn conduit 50. The cooler reservoir 44 may then provide the cooled,liquid working fluid to the cooler pump 42 via the cooler supply conduit46 for delivery to the CES 100 (as described above).

As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes a controlled pressurereceiver (CPR), shown as CPR 136, a first heat exchanger, shown ascondenser system 140, a second heat exchanger, shown as first evaporatorsystem 160, and a third heat exchanger, shown as second evaporatorsystem 180. In other embodiments, the CES module 102 does not includeone of the first evaporator system 160 and the second evaporator system180. In still other embodiments, the CES module 102 includes additionalevaporator systems (e.g., a third, fourth, fifth, etc. evaporatorsystem). As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes an inletconduit, shown as condenser inlet conduit 106, that extends from aninlet of the CES module 102 (at point A), shown as HG refrigerant inlet104, to an inlet of the condenser system 140 (at point B). The HGrefrigerant inlet 104 is positioned to receive the compressed gaseousrefrigerant from the compressor 22 via the HG refrigerant conduit 28such that the condenser inlet conduit 106 provides the compressedgaseous refrigerant from the compressor 22 to the condenser system 140.As shown in FIG. 2, the condenser inlet conduit 106 includes a firstinlet valve, shown as HG condensing valve 146, positioned to facilitatemodulating the flow of the compressed gaseous refrigerant provided bythe compressor 22 entering the condenser system 140.

As shown in FIG. 2, the condenser system 140 includes a conduit, shownas condenser conduit 142, that extends from the inlet of the condensersystem 140 (at point B) to an outlet of the condenser system 140 (atpoint C). The condenser system 140 also includes a variable speed drivefan, shown as condenser fan 144. According to the exemplary embodimentshown in FIG. 2, the condenser system 140 includes an adiabaticcondenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporative condenser (e.g., mayadditionally include a spray water pump, etc.), and/or still anothertype of condenser that utilizes the condenser fan 144. A speed setpointof the condenser fan 144 may be controlled to facilitate selectivelyadjusting the stage of the condenser system 140 and thereby the capacityof the condenser system 140 to condense at least a portion of thecompressed gaseous refrigerant provided by the compressor 22 into aliquid refrigerant.

According to an alternative embodiment, the condenser system 140includes a plate frame condenser, a shell and tube condenser, a shelland plate condenser, or still another condenser that does not includethe condenser fan 144 (e.g., the condenser system 140 does not includethe condenser fan 144, etc.). In such an embodiment, the condensersystem 140 is fluidly coupled to the fluid cooler 40 to receive thecooled working fluid from the cooler pump 42. A flow rate of the cooledworking fluid provided by the cooler pump 42 may be controlled tofacilitate selectively adjusting the stage of the condenser system 140and thereby the capacity of the condenser system 140 to condense atleast a portion of the compressed gaseous refrigerant provided by thecompressor 22 into a liquid refrigerant. In some embodiments, the CES100 includes at least one of (i) one or more CES modules 102 including acondenser system 140 having an adiabatic condenser, an air-cooledcondenser, an evaporative condenser, etc. and (ii) one or more CESmodules 102 including a condenser system 140 having a plate framecondenser, a shell and tube condenser, a shell and plate condenser, etc.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes a first intermediateconduit, shown as condenser outlet conduit 108, that extends from theoutlet of the condenser conduit 142 (at point C) to a first inlet of theCPR 136 (at point D). The condenser outlet conduit 108 is positioned toprovide the condensed liquid refrigerant from the condenser system 140to the CPR 136. The CPR 136 is configured store the liquid refrigerantreceived from the condenser system 140. As the condensed liquidrefrigerant is delivered to the CPR 136, it may pass through a floatvalve where upon passing therethrough, a portion of the condensed liquidrefrigerant may flash into a vapor (e.g., due to a pressure change fromthe condenser system 140 to the CPR 136, etc.). As shown in FIG. 2, theCES module 102 includes a first outlet conduit, shown as CPR HSS conduit110, that extends from a first outlet of the CPR 136 (near point D) to afirst outlet of the CES module 102 (at point E), shown as HSS outlet112. The HSS outlet 112 is positioned to provide gaseous refrigerantfrom the CPR 136 (e.g., that flashed into a vapor state after passingthrough the float valve, etc.) via the CPR HSS conduit 110 to the HSSconduit 30 such that the CPR 136 may provide gaseous refrigerant to thecompressor accumulator 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPR HSS conduit 110includes a first outlet valve, shown as HSS valve 148, positioned toselectively restrict the flow of the gaseous refrigerant provided by theCPR 136 to the compressor accumulator 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes a second intermediateconduit, shown as CPR outlet conduit 114, that extends from a secondoutlet of the CPR 136 and splits (at point F) to fluidly couple the CPR136 to the first evaporator system 160 via a first evaporator inletconduit, shown as first evaporator inlet conduit 116, and the secondevaporator system 180 via a second evaporator inlet conduit, shown assecond evaporator inlet conduit 122. The first evaporator inlet conduit116 extends from the CPR outlet conduit 114 (at point F) to an inlet ofthe first evaporator system 160 (at point G). The first evaporatorsystem 160 may thereby receive liquid refrigerant from the CPR 136. Asshown in FIG. 2, the first evaporator inlet conduit 116 includes a firstevaporator inlet valve, shown as first evaporator inlet valve 150,positioned to selectively control the flow of the liquid refrigerantfrom the CPR 136 into the first evaporator system 160. The secondevaporator inlet conduit 122 extends from the CPR outlet conduit 114 (atpoint F) to an inlet of the second evaporator system 180 (at point K).The second evaporator system 180 may thereby receive liquid refrigerantfrom the CPR 136. As shown in FIG. 2, the second evaporator inletconduit 122 includes a second evaporator inlet valve, shown as secondevaporator inlet valve 170, positioned to selectively control the flowof the liquid refrigerant from the CPR 136 into the second evaporatorsystem 180.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first evaporator system 160 includes a conduit,shown as first evaporator conduit 162, that extends from the inlet ofthe first evaporator system 160 (at point G) to an outlet of the firstevaporator system 160 (at point I). The first evaporator system 160additionally includes a first expansion valve, shown as first evaporatorexpansion valve 166, positioned along the first evaporator conduit 162.According to an exemplary embodiment, the first evaporator expansionvalve 166 is positioned to facilitate modulating an amount of liquidrefrigerant that flows into the first evaporator system 160 (e.g., basedon a superheat setpoint of the first evaporator expansion valve 166,etc.). A superheat setpoint of the first evaporator expansion valve 166may be selectively set to facilitate at least partially selectivelyadjusting the stage of the first evaporator system 160 and thereby thecapacity of the first evaporator system 160 to evaporate at least aportion of the liquid refrigerant provided by the CPR 136 into a gaseousrefrigerant. The first evaporator system 160 also includes a variablespeed drive fan, shown as first evaporator fan 164. A speed setpoint ofthe first evaporator fan 164 may be variably controlled to facilitate atleast partially selectively adjusting the stage of the first evaporatorsystem 160 and thereby the capacity of the first evaporator system 160to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid refrigerant provided bythe CPR 136 into a gaseous refrigerant. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the air that is blown over the first evaporator conduit 162by the first evaporator fan 164 facilitates providing a coolingoperation to an area or zone (e.g., a refrigerated zone, etc.)associated with the first evaporator system 160 through the evaporationof the liquid refrigerant flowing therethrough, which thereby cools theair.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes a third intermediateconduit, shown as first evaporator outlet conduit 120, positioned tofluidly couple the outlet of the first evaporator conduit 162 (at pointI) to a second outlet conduit, shown as evaporator LSS conduit 128. Thefirst evaporator outlet conduit 120 is positioned to provide theevaporated gaseous refrigerant from the first evaporator system 160 tothe evaporator LSS conduit 128. As shown in FIG. 2, the first evaporatoroutlet conduit 120 includes a first evaporator outlet valve, shown asfirst evaporator outlet valve 152, positioned to selectively control theflow of the evaporated gaseous refrigerant from the first evaporatorsystem 160 to the evaporator LSS conduit 128.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second evaporator system 180 includes a conduit,shown as second evaporator conduit 182, that extends from the inlet ofthe second evaporator system 180 (at point K) to an outlet of the secondevaporator system 180 (at point M). The second evaporator system 180additionally includes a second expansion valve, shown as secondevaporator expansion valve 186, positioned along the second evaporatorconduit 182. According to an exemplary embodiment, the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186 is positioned to facilitate modulating an amount ofliquid refrigerant that flows into the second evaporator system 180(e.g., based on a superheat setpoint of the second evaporator expansionvalve 186, etc.). A superheat setpoint of the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186 may be selectively set to facilitate at leastpartially selectively adjusting the stage of the second evaporatorsystem 180 and thereby the capacity of the second evaporator system 180to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid refrigerant provided bythe CPR 136 into a gaseous refrigerant. The second evaporator system 180also includes a variable speed drive fan, shown as second evaporator fan184. A speed setpoint of the second evaporator fan 184 may be variablycontrolled to facilitate at least partially selectively adjusting thestage of the second evaporator system 180 and thereby the capacity ofthe second evaporator system 180 to evaporate at least a portion of theliquid refrigerant provided by the CPR 136 into a gaseous refrigerant.According to an exemplary embodiment, the air that is blown over thesecond evaporator conduit 182 by the second evaporator fan 184facilitates providing a cooling operation to an area or zone (e.g., arefrigerated zone, etc.) associated with the second evaporator system180 through the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowingtherethrough, which thereby cools the air.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes a fourth intermediateconduit, shown as second evaporator outlet conduit 126, positioned tofluidly couple the outlet of the second evaporator conduit 182 (at pointM) to the evaporator LSS conduit 128. The second evaporator outletconduit 126 is positioned to provide the evaporated gaseous refrigerantfrom the second evaporator system 180 to the evaporator LSS conduit 128.As shown in FIG. 2, the second evaporator outlet conduit 126 includes asecond evaporator outlet valve, shown as second evaporator outlet valve172, positioned to selectively control the flow of the evaporatedgaseous refrigerant from the second evaporator system 180 to theevaporator LSS conduit 128.

As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator LSS conduit 128 fluidly couples thefirst evaporator system 160 and the second evaporator system 180 to asecond outlet of the CES module 102 (at point O), shown as LSS outlet130. The LSS outlet 130 is positioned to provide gaseous refrigerantfrom the first evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system180 to the LSS conduit 32 via the evaporator LSS conduit 128. Thus, thefirst evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180 mayprovide gaseous refrigerant to the compressor accumulator 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first evaporator system 160 includes a firstliquid trap, shown as first evaporator liquid trap 168, positioned alongthe first evaporator conduit 162 (at point H). The first evaporatorsystem 160 includes a return line, shown as first evaporator returnconduit 118, that extends from the first evaporator liquid trap 168 (atpoint H) to a secondary outlet of the first evaporator system 160 (atpoint J). The first evaporator return conduit 118 is positioned tofluidly couple the first evaporator liquid trap 168 of the firstevaporator conduit 162 (at point H) to a CPR return line (at point J),shown as CPR return conduit 134. According to an exemplary embodiment,the first evaporator liquid trap 168 is configured to convey liquid andgaseous condensate refrigerant created during a hot gas defrost cyclewithin the first evaporator system 160. The first evaporator returnconduit 118 and the CPR return conduit 134 may thereby direct thedefrost condensate refrigerant of the first evaporator system 160 to asecond inlet of the CPR 136 (at point Q). As shown in FIG. 2, the CPRreturn conduit 134 includes a first defrost valve, shown as firstevaporator outlet defrost valve 156, positioned to selectively controlthe flow of the liquid refrigerant from the first evaporator liquid trap168 that is returned to the CPR 136 along the CPR return conduit 134.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second evaporator system 180 includes a secondliquid trap, shown as second evaporator liquid trap 188, positionedalong the second evaporator conduit 182 (at point L). The secondevaporator system 180 includes a return line, shown as second evaporatorreturn conduit 124, that extends from the second evaporator liquid trap188 (at point L) to a secondary outlet of the second evaporator system180 (at point N). The second evaporator return conduit 124 is positionedto fluidly couple the second evaporator liquid trap 188 of the secondevaporator conduit 182 (at point L) to the CPR return conduit 134 (atpoint N). According to an exemplary embodiment, the second evaporatorliquid trap 188 is configured to convey liquid and gaseous condensaterefrigerant created during the defrost cycle within the secondevaporator system 180. The second evaporator return conduit 124 and theCPR return conduit 134 may thereby direct defrost condensate refrigerant(e.g., during a defrost mode, etc.) of the second evaporator system 180to the second inlet of the CPR 136 (at point Q). As shown in FIG. 2, theCPR return conduit 134 includes a second defrost valve, shown as secondevaporator outlet defrost valve 176, positioned to selectively controlthe flow of the defrost condensate refrigerant from the secondevaporator liquid trap 188 that is returned to the CPR 136 along the CPRreturn conduit 134.

As shown in FIG. 6, the CES module 102 does not include the firstevaporator liquid trap 168 or the second evaporator liquid trap 188.Rather, the CPR return conduit 134 is positioned to directly fluidlycouple the first evaporator outlet conduit 120 (at point V) and thesecond evaporator outlet conduit 126 (at point W). The CPR returnconduit 134 may thereby be positioned to directly receive therefrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator system 160 and/or thesecond evaporator system 180 (e.g., during a defrost mode of operation,etc.). By way of example, during a defrost mode, a combination of liquidcondensate refrigerant and uncondensed gaseous refrigerant may travelthrough the first evaporator outlet defrost valve 156 and/or the secondevaporator outlet defrost valve 176 to the CPR return conduit 134 (e.g.,since the first evaporator outlet valve 152 and/or the second evaporatoroutlet valve 172 may be closed, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 2, the CES module 102 includes a defrost conduit, shownas defrost conduit 132, that extends from the condenser inlet conduit106 (at point R) to a secondary inlet of the first evaporator system 160(at point S) and to a secondary inlet of the second evaporator system180 (at point U). The defrost conduit 132 is positioned to direct thecompressed gaseous refrigerant from the compressor 22 to the firstevaporator system 160 and the second evaporator system 180. As shown inFIG. 2, the defrost conduit 132 includes a defrost valve, shown as HGdefrost pressure regulator 190, positioned to facilitate selectivelycontrolling characteristics of the flow of the compressed gaseousrefrigerant from the compressor 22 into the defrost conduit 132 (e.g.,the pressure, flow rate, etc. thereof).

As shown in FIG. 2, the defrost conduit 132 includes a first inletdefrost valve, shown as first evaporator inlet defrost valve 154,positioned to facilitate controlling the flow of the compressed gaseousrefrigerant provided by the compressor 22 entering the secondary inletof the first evaporator system 160. As shown in FIG. 2, the defrostconduit 132 includes a second inlet defrost valve, shown as secondevaporator inlet defrost valve 174, positioned to facilitate controllingthe flow of the compressed gaseous refrigerant provided by thecompressor 22 entering the secondary inlet of the second evaporatorsystem 180. According to an exemplary embodiment, the defrost conduit132, the HG defrost pressure regulator 190, the first evaporator inletdefrost valve 154, the second evaporator inlet defrost valve 174, thefirst evaporator outlet defrost valve 156, and/or the second evaporatoroutlet defrost valve 176 are configured to facilitate operating thefirst evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180 in adefrost mode.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the CESmodule 102 may additionally include a decentralized subcooler system(e.g., a liquid refrigerant subcooler, etc.), shown as subcooler system200. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the subcooler system 200 is positionedalong the CPR outlet conduit 114, proximate the CPR 136 (e.g., near theCPR 136, at the outlet of the CPR 136, etc.). The subcooler system 200may thereby be positioned downstream of the CPR 136 and upstream of thefirst evaporator inlet conduit 116 (i.e., the first evaporator system160) and the second evaporator inlet conduit 122 (i.e., the secondevaporator system 180). According to an exemplary embodiment, thesubcooler system 200 is configured to further lower the temperature(e.g., sub-cool, etc.) of the refrigerant exiting the CPR 136 throughthe CPR outlet conduit 114 such that the exiting refrigerant is providedto the first evaporator expansion valve 166 of the first evaporatorsystem 160 and the second evaporator expansion valve 186 of the secondevaporator system 180 in a liquid state (e.g., a consistent or constantliquid column is provided thereto, not in a gaseous state, etc.).

By way of example, the liquid refrigerant exiting the CPR 136 throughthe CPR outlet conduit 114 may experience a pressure drop between (i)the CPR 136 and (ii) the first evaporator expansion valve 166 and/or thesecond evaporator expansion valve 186 such that at least a portion ofthe liquid refrigerant flashes (e.g., vaporizes, etc.) into a gaseousstate. For example, every 1% of liquid refrigerant that flashes into agaseous state may increase the volume of the refrigerant by a factor oftwo. According to an exemplary embodiment, the first evaporatorexpansion valve 166 and the second evaporator expansion valve 186 areconfigured as constant volume flow devices. Therefore, the firstevaporator expansion valve 166 and the second evaporator expansion valve186 may not receive a desired amount of refrigerant mass flow if theliquid refrigerant flashes. The subcooler system 200 is therebypositioned to sub-cool the liquid and/or gaseous refrigerant receivedfrom the CPR 136 via the CPR outlet conduit 114 such that a constantliquid column (e.g., liquid refrigerant supply, etc.) is provided to thefirst evaporator expansion valve 166 and/or the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186. Such a consistent supply of liquid refrigerant tothe first evaporator expansion valve 166 and/or the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186 may facilitate more consistent and efficientoperation of the first evaporator system 160, the second evaporatorsystem 180, the CES module 102, and the refrigeration system 10 as awhole.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the subcooler system 200 includes a thermalregulation unit (e.g., a heat exchanger, etc.), shown as subcooler 202,a first circuit, shown as refrigerant circuit 210, and a second circuit,shown as cooling circuit 220. According to an exemplary embodiment, therefrigerant circuit 210 is configured to receive a first portion of theliquid refrigerant exiting the CPR 136 and the cooling circuit 220 isconfigured to receive a second portion of the liquid refrigerant exitingthe CPR 136. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the refrigerant circuit 210includes a first inlet conduit, shown as refrigerant inlet conduit 212,and a first outlet conduit, shown as refrigerant outlet conduit 214. Therefrigerant inlet conduit 212 is positioned to couple to the CPR outletconduit 114 to a first inlet (e.g., a refrigerant inlet, etc.) of thesubcooler 202. The refrigerant outlet conduit 214 is positioned tocouple a first outlet (e.g., a refrigerant outlet, etc.) of thesubcooler 202 to the first evaporator system 160 and the secondevaporator system 180 (i.e., the first evaporator expansion valve 166and the second evaporator expansion valve 186).

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the cooling circuit 220 includes a secondinlet conduit, shown as working fluid inlet conduit 222, a second outletconduit, shown as working fluid outlet conduit 224, a first valve (e.g.,a solenoid valve, etc.), shown as subcooler valve 226, and a secondvalve, shown as subcooler expansion valve 228. The working fluid inletconduit 222 is positioned to couple to the CPR outlet conduit 114 to asecond inlet (e.g., a working fluid inlet, etc.) of the subcooler 202.The working fluid outlet conduit 224 is positioned to couple a secondoutlet (e.g., a working fluid outlet, etc.) of the subcooler 202 to theLSS conduit 32 of the compressor system 20.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the subcooler valve 226 is positioned alongthe working fluid inlet conduit 222. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the subcooler valve 226 is configured to facilitateselectively restricting the flow of the second portion of the liquidrefrigerant exiting the CPR 136 from entering the subcooler 202. By wayof example, the subcooler 202 may not receive the second portion of theliquid refrigerant when the subcooler valve 226 is configured in aclosed orientation (i.e., all of the liquid refrigerant flows throughthe refrigerant circuit 210). By way of another example, the subcooler202 may receive the second portion of the liquid refrigerant when thesubcooler valve 226 is configured in an open orientation. According toan exemplary embodiment, the subcooler valve 226 is configured to bearranged in the open orientation while the first evaporator system 160and/or the second evaporator system 180 are operating in the coolingmode and the closed orientation while the first evaporator system 160and the second evaporator system 180 are not operating in the coolingmode.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the subcooler expansion valve 228 ispositioned along the working fluid inlet conduit 222 downstream of thesubcooler valve 226 and upstream of the subcooler 202 (i.e., the secondinlet, the working fluid inlet). According to an exemplary embodiment,the subcooler expansion valve 228 is configured to lower the pressureand the temperature of the second portion of the liquid refrigerant suchthat the second portion of the liquid refrigerant evaporates into asecond evaporated gaseous refrigerant. The second evaporated gaseousrefrigerant may thereby flow through the subcooler 202 via the coolingcircuit 220 to sub-cool the first portion of the liquid refrigerantflowing through the subcooler 202 via the refrigerant circuit 210 suchthat sub-cooled liquid refrigerant exits the subcooler 202 within therefrigerant outlet conduit 214 (e.g., the first portion of the liquidrefrigerant transfers heat thereof to the lower temperature secondevaporated gaseous refrigerant, etc.). The sub-cooled liquid refrigerantmay thereafter be provided to the first evaporator system 160 and/or thesecond evaporator system 180. The second evaporated gaseous refrigerantmay be provided by the working fluid outlet conduit 224 to the LSSconduit 32 such that the second evaporated gaseous refrigerant isreturned to the compressor system 20 for recompression.

In some embodiments, the subcooler system 200 includes a plurality ofsubcoolers 202 arranged in parallel with one another. Each of thesubcoolers 202 may be associated with a respective evaporator system(e.g., a first subcooler associated with the first evaporator system160, a second subcooler associated with the second evaporator system180, etc.) or the plurality of subcoolers 202 may be collectivelyassociated with all of the evaporator systems of a respective CES module102. In an alternative embodiment, the cooling circuit 220 is coupled toa different fluid source (e.g., the fluid cooler 40, a decentralizedfluid cooler, etc.) that provides a working fluid that is not from theCPR 136 (e.g., a working fluid that is not the same as the refrigerantin the system, a working fluid that is not the liquid refrigerantexiting the CPR 136, etc.).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the subcooler system 200 islocated after the CPR 136 within the CES module 102 which may minimizethe mass flow of the working fluid (e.g., the second portion of theliquid refrigerant, etc.) used to sub-cool the liquid refrigerant (e.g.,the first portion of the liquid refrigerant, etc.) being supplied to thefirst evaporator expansion valve 166 and the second evaporator expansionvalve 186, and minimizes the compressor capacity penalty. A subcoolerused in a traditional centralized condensing refrigeration systemsub-cools the liquid refrigerant after the condenser where the systempressure is the highest. A larger pressure drop increases the vaporizedliquid and increases the compressor capacity penalty.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the subcooler system 200 ispositioned within the CES module 102 at or above a relative height ofthe first evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180.Such relative elevation and close proximity to the first evaporatorsystem 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180 may minimize therequired sub-cooling needed to ensure the refrigerant (e.g., the firstportion of the liquid refrigerant, etc.) is provided to the firstevaporator expansion valve 166 and/or the second evaporator expansionvalve 186 in a liquid state. Conversely, a subcooler used in atraditional centralized condensing refrigeration system may typically belocated in the engine room which may be fifteen feet or more below theelevation of the evaporators and at significantly greater horizontaldistances therefrom.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the subcooler system 200 isconfigured to provide sufficient liquid refrigerant sub-cooling (e.g.,to the first portion of the liquid refrigerant, etc.) to overcome anypressure losses in the piping, valves, and/or strainers within the CESmodule 102. Such localized sub-cooling may optimize the operation of thefirst evaporator expansion valve 166 and/or the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186 by controlling the liquid refrigerant temperature atthe entrance of each expansion valve. Conversely, a subcooler used intraditional centralized condensing refrigeration system may providevarying liquid refrigerant temperatures at the entrance of eachexpansion valve based on pressure losses and distances between thesubcooler and each expansion valve. Additionally, since the subcoolersystem 200 may optimize the operation of the first evaporator expansionvalve 166 and/or the second evaporator expansion valve 186, therefrigerant flow after the first evaporator expansion valve 166 and/orthe second evaporator expansion valve 186 and distribution within thefirst evaporator conduit 162 and/or the second evaporator conduit 182,respectively, is optimized. The quality of the liquid refrigerantentering each of the first evaporator conduit 162 and/or the secondevaporator conduit 182 may thereby be more consistent than a traditionalcentralized condensing refrigeration system having a subcooler.

As shown in FIG. 19, the CES module 102 has a different defrost setup tofacilitate the defrost mode compared to the CES module 102 of FIG. 2 andFIG. 6. It should be noted that the below description of the defrostsetup of the CES module 102 of FIG. 19 is described in relation to asingle evaporator system (e.g., the first evaporator system 160, etc.),but may be similar for two or more evaporator systems (e.g., the firstevaporator system 160 and the second evaporator system 180, etc.). Asshown in FIG. 19, the CES module 102 includes a feed valve, shown assubcooled liquid feed valve 230, positioned between the refrigerantoutlet conduit 214 of the subcooler 202 and a liquid supply line, shownas evaporator supply line 242, that feeds into the first evaporatorsystem 160 to facilitate selectively isolating the first evaporatorsystem 160 from the subcooler 202; an expansion valve, shown aselectronic expansion valve 232, positioned along the evaporator supplyline 242 upstream of the first evaporator system 160; a suction valve,shown as evaporator suction valve 234, positioned downstream of thefirst evaporator system 160 to facilitate selectively isolating thefirst evaporator system 160 from the compressor suction of thecompressor system 20; a hot gas valve, shown as hot gas solenoid valve236, positioned to facilitate selectively isolating the first evaporatorsystem 160 from the compressor discharge of the compressor system 20; aregulator, shown as hot gas pressure regulator 238, positioned toselectively control the pressure of the hot gas received by the firstevaporator system 160 from the compressor system 20; a bypass, shown asbypass line 240, extending from an outlet of the first evaporator system160 and positioned to connect the outlet of the first evaporator system160 to the evaporator supply line 242 to facilitate bypassing theelectronic expansion valve 232; a return line, shown as condensatereturn line 244, extending between the evaporator supply line 242 and aninlet of the CPR 136; and a regulator, shown as condensate pressureregulator 246, positioned along the condensate return line 244 tofacilitate selectively isolating the CPR 136 from the first evaporatorsystem 160.

According to an exemplary embodiment, activating the defrost mode of theCES module 102 of FIG. 19 includes: (i) closing the subcooled liquidfeed valve 230 to prevent subcooled liquid refrigerant from thesubcooler 202 from entering the first evaporator system 160; (ii)closing the electronic expansion valve 232; (iii) closing the evaporatorsuction valve 234 after a time delay to allow the liquid refrigerant inthe first evaporator system 160 to completely evaporate and to isolatethe first evaporator system 160 from the compressor suction of thecompressor system 20; (iv) opening the hot gas solenoid valve 236 tosupply hot gas from the compressor system 20 to the first evaporatorsystem 160 with the pressure thereof controlled by the hot gas pressureregulator 238 such that hot gas condensate exits the first evaporatorsystem 160 along the bypass line 240 and flows around the electronicexpansion valve 232, into the evaporator supply line 242, and then tothe condensate return line 244; (v) and then as the pressure of the hotgas condensate rises within the condensate return line 244, thecondensate pressure regulator 246 is configured to open and allow thehot gas condensate to flow into the CPR 136 for storage.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the mechanical arrangement andstructure of the CES modules 102 provide a simplified, more economical,and a more reliable low charge refrigeration system relative totraditional refrigeration systems having a decentralized CES. By way ofexample, the CES modules 102 facilitate providing a refrigeration systemwith a more economical design based on a reduction of componentsrelative to traditional refrigeration systems having a decentralized CES(e.g., from over ninety components to less than forty components, etc.).Such as reduction in components not only reduces the material costs toconstruct the refrigeration system 10, but labor costs associated withinstalling the refrigeration system 10. Further, fewer components mayadditionally reduce ongoing maintenance requirements and costs for therefrigeration system 10 relative to traditional refrigeration systemshaving a decentralized CES. By way of another example, the CES modules102 facilitate providing a refrigeration system with increasedreliability based on the reduction of components relative to traditionalrefrigeration systems having a decentralized CES. The refrigerationsystem 10 is a sealed system and any type of leak either into or out ofthe refrigeration system 10 may cause efficiency, environmental, andsafety issues. Therefore, reducing the number of components (e.g., eachwhich may be separately welded into the refrigeration system 10, etc.)may reduce the possibilities for leaks to occur.

The controller 60 may be configured to selectively engage, selectivelydisengage, control, and/or otherwise communicate with components of therefrigeration system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 60 iscoupled to the compressor system 20, the fluid cooler 40, and the CESmodules 102. In other embodiments, the controller 60 is coupled to moreor fewer components. The controller 60 may be configured to control theoperation of at least one of the compressor system 20, the fluid cooler40, and the CES modules 102. By way of example, the controller 60 maysend and receive signals with the compressor system 20 (e.g., thecompressor 22, the compressor accumulator 24, etc.), the fluid cooler 40(e.g., the cooler pump 42, the cooling element, etc.), the CPR 136(e.g., a liquid level sensor thereof, etc.), the condenser system 140(e.g., the condenser fan 144, etc.), the HG condensing valve 146, theHSS valve 148, the first evaporator inlet valve 150, the firstevaporator outlet valve 152, the first evaporator inlet defrost valve154, the first evaporator outlet defrost valve 156, the first evaporatorsystem 160 (e.g., the first evaporator fan 164, the first evaporatorexpansion valve 166, pressure and/or temperature sensors positionedalong the first evaporator outlet conduit 120,etc.), the secondevaporator inlet valve 170, the second evaporator outlet valve 172, thesecond evaporator inlet defrost valve 174, the second evaporator outletdefrost valve 176, the second evaporator system 180 (e.g., the secondevaporator fan 184, the second evaporator expansion valve 186, pressureand/or temperature sensors positioned along the second evaporator outletconduit 126, etc.), the HG defrost pressure regulator 190, and/or thesubcooler system 200 (e.g., the subcooler valve 226, etc.).

The controller 60 may be implemented as a general-purpose processor, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), a digital-signal-processor (DSP),circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry forsupporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or othersuitable electronic processing components. According to the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the controller 60 includes a processingcircuit 62 and a memory 64. The processing circuit 62 may include anASIC, one or more FPGAs, a DSP, circuits containing one or moreprocessing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, agroup of processing components, or other suitable electronic processingcomponents. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 62 is configuredto execute computer code stored in the memory 64 to facilitate theactivities described herein. The memory 64 may be any volatile ornon-volatile computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data orcomputer code relating to the activities described herein. According toan exemplary embodiment, the memory 64 includes computer code modules(e.g., executable code, object code, source code, script code, machinecode, etc.) configured for execution by the processing circuit 62. Thememory 64 includes various actuation profiles corresponding to loadingconditions experienced by the refrigeration system 10 and/orcorresponding to modes of operation of components of the refrigerationsystem 10 (e.g., a cooling mode, a defrost mode, a standby mode, etc.),according to an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, controller 60represents a collection of processing devices (e.g., servers, datacenters, etc.). In such cases, the processing circuit 62 represents thecollective processors of the devices, and the memory 64 represents thecollective storage devices of the devices.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the CES module102 in configured in a standby mode. The controller 60 may be configuredto operate the CES module 102 in the standby mode in response to atemperature of the zones (e.g., a refrigerated area, a first zone, asecond zone, etc.) associated with the first evaporator system 160 andthe second evaporator system 180 being less than a temperature setpoint(e.g., the zone in currently below a desired temperature and thereforedoes not require cooling, etc.). To initiate the standby mode of the CESmodule 102, the controller 60 may be configured to close the HGcondensing valve 146, the HSS valve 148, the first evaporator inletvalve 150, the second evaporator inlet valve 170, the first evaporatoroutlet valve 152, the second evaporator outlet valve 172, the firstevaporator inlet defrost valve 154, the second evaporator inlet defrostvalve 174, the first evaporator outlet defrost valve 156, and/or thesecond evaporator outlet defrost valve 176 to prevent refrigerant fromflowing into and out of the CES module 102. The controller 60 mayadditionally be configured to set the first evaporator system 160 and/orthe second evaporator system 180 to a ready mode while the CES module102 is in the standby mode (e.g., in preparation for a future coolingoperation, etc.).

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the CES module102 is configured in an active mode with the first evaporator system 160and the second evaporator system 180 in a cooling mode. The controller60 may be configured to operate the CES module 102 in the active modewith the first evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system180 in the cooling mode in response to a temperature of a zone (e.g., arefrigerated area, a first zone, a second zone, etc.) associated withthe first evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180being greater that a temperature setpoint (e.g., the respective zone iscurrently above a desired temperature and therefore requires cooling,etc.). To initiate the cooling mode of the first evaporator system 160and/or the second evaporator system 180, the controller 60 may beconfigured to open the HG condensing valve 146 to allow a gaseousrefrigerant (e.g., a high pressure and temperature gaseous refrigerant,etc.) from the compressor 22 to flow into the condenser system 140(e.g., if the liquid refrigerant level within the CPR 136 is not above adesired liquid refrigerant level, etc.). The controller 60 may furthercontrol a stage of the condenser system 140 (e.g., a condenser fan speedsetpoint of the condenser fan 144, a flow rate of the working fluidprovided by the fluid cooler 40, etc.) to provide a suitable condensercapacity to assist in maintaining a level of the liquid refrigerantwithin the CPR 136. For example, increasing the speed of the condenserfan 144 and/or increasing the flow rate of the working fluid provided bythe fluid cooler 40 may thereby increase the capacity of the condensersystem 140 to perform the condensing operation (e.g., condense a greaterquantity of the gaseous refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, etc.). Suchcontrol of the stage of the condenser system 140 may allow for increasedefficiency of the CES module 102 relative to traditional CES systems.

During the cooling mode, the controller 60 may be further configured toopen the first evaporator inlet valve 150 to allow liquid refrigerantfrom the CPR 136 to enter the first evaporator system 160 forevaporation and open the first evaporator outlet valve 152 to allow theevaporated gaseous refrigerant to exit the first evaporator system 160to return to the compressor system 20 for recompression. The controller60 may be configured to additionally or alternatively open the secondevaporator inlet valve 170 to allow liquid refrigerant from the CPR 136to enter the second evaporator system 180 for evaporation and open thesecond evaporator outlet valve 172 to allow the evaporated gaseousrefrigerant to exit the second evaporator system 180 to return to thecompressor system 20 for recompression.

The controller 60 may further control a stage of the first evaporatorsystem 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180 to provide a suitableevaporator capacity to assist in maintaining the level of the liquidrefrigerant within the CPR 136, as well as providing the desired coolingto the respective cooling zone. Controlling the stage of the firstevaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180 mayinclude controlling at least one of (i) a first evaporator fan speedsetpoint of the first evaporator fan 164 and (ii) a first superheatsetpoint of the first evaporator expansion valve 166 and/or at least oneof (i) a second evaporator fan speed setpoint of the second evaporatorfan 184 and (ii) a second superheat setpoint of the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186, respectively. For example, increasing the firstevaporator fan speed setpoint of the first evaporator fan 164 mayincrease the capacity of the first evaporator system 160 to perform theevaporation operation (e.g., evaporate a greater quantity of the liquidrefrigerant to gaseous refrigerant, etc.) to provide cooling to thesurrounding area. In another example, decreasing the first superheatsetpoint of the first evaporator expansion valve 166 may allow a greateramount of liquid refrigerant to enter the first evaporator system 160,thereby increasing the capacity of the first evaporator system 160 toperform the evaporation operation to provide cooling to the surroundingarea. Such control of the stage of the first evaporator system 160and/or the second evaporator system 180 may allow for increasedefficiency of the CES module 102 relative to traditional CES systems.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the CES module102 is configured in an active mode with the first evaporator system 160in a defrost mode and the second evaporator system 180 in a coolingmode. The cooling mode of the second evaporator system 180 may operatesimilar to that described in relation to FIG. 4. The controller 60 maybe configured to operate the first evaporator system 160 (or the secondevaporator system 180) in the defrost mode in response to a defrosttimer thereof expiring. The defrost timer may be preset within thecontroller 60, selected by an operator of the refrigeration system 10,and/or still otherwise set. According to an exemplary embodiment, thedefrost timer sets a time (e.g., six hours, four hours, twelve hours,etc.) between defrost operations of the first evaporator system 160(and/or the second evaporator system 180). In one embodiment, the timeis determined based on an operating time of the first evaporator system160 (and/or the second evaporator system 180) between defrostoperations. In other embodiments, the time is determined based onelapsed time between defrost operations of the first evaporator system160 (and/or the second evaporator system 180) or some other mechanism tosignal the start of a defrost cycle.

The controller 60 may be configured to initiate the defrost mode of thefirst evaporator system 160 (and/or the second evaporator system 180) tomelt frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator systems duringthe cooling mode. To initiate the defrost mode, the controller 60 may beconfigured to stop the cooling mode and evaporate (e.g., boil out, etc.)any remaining liquid refrigerant within the first evaporator system 160(and/or the second evaporator system 180). The controller 60 may befurther configured to close the first evaporator inlet valve 150 (and/orthe second evaporator inlet valve 170) to prevent a liquid refrigerantfrom entering the first evaporator system 160 (and/or the secondevaporator system 180) from the CPR 136. The controller 60 may befurther configured to close the first evaporator outlet valve 152(and/or the second evaporator outlet valve 172) to prevent the gaseousrefrigerant from exiting the first evaporator system 160 (and/or thesecond evaporator system 180) to the compressor system 20 (e.g., thecompressor accumulator 24, etc.). The controller 60 may then beconfigured to open the first evaporator inlet defrost valve 154 (and/orthe second evaporator inlet defrost valve 174) to allow a gaseousrefrigerant to flow into the first evaporator system 160 (and/or thesecond evaporator system 180) from the compressor system 20. Thecontroller 60 may be further configured to open the first evaporatoroutlet defrost valve 156 (and/or the second evaporator outlet defrostvalve 176) to allow liquid refrigerant condensate (e.g., condensed fromthe gaseous refrigerant, etc.) to flow into the CPR 136. According to anexemplary embodiment, the first evaporator fan 164 (and/or the secondevaporator fan 184) is shut off by the controller 60 during the defrostmode of operation. The first evaporator system 160 (and/or the secondevaporator system 180) may function as a condenser during the defrostmode of operation.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 60 is configured tofacilitate providing consistent and stable coordinated balancing of thelevel of liquid refrigerant in all of the CPR 136 of the CES 100 usingthe modulating capacities inherent in the local condenser systems andevaporator systems of each CES module 102. By way of example, each CESmodule 102 may require a minimum amount liquid refrigerant to satisfyits respective evaporator systems at all times, yet not more than amaximum amount such that it may be possible to pull liquid refrigerantfrom the CPR 136 and send it back to the compressor system 20 (e.g.,liquid refrigerant in the suction line of compressor system 20 canpotentially damage the compressor 22).

Since all the CES modules 102 are connected to the HG refrigerantconduit 28, the HSS conduit 30, and the LSS conduit 32, and therefrigerant mass in main headers of the compressor system 20 and theindividual CES modules 102 may vary with changing conditions of therefrigeration system 10, the liquid refrigerant levels in each CESmodule 102 may vary over time. The controller 60 may be configured tocontinually manage the refrigerant charge between the various CESmodules 102 to ensure each CES module 102 has a sufficient liquidrefrigerant level in the respective CPRs 136, while simultaneouslyallowing the refrigeration system 10 to operate with the lowest possibletotal refrigerant charge.

Traditionally such control is performed by monitoring the liquid levelsin each CES module 102 and then controlling the HG condensing valve 146on the inlet of the condenser system 140 to control the amount and flowrate of compressed gaseous refrigerant that flows into the condensersystem 140 to regulate the amount of gaseous refrigerant that iscondensed and stored in the CPR 136 in an effort to control the liquidlevel in the CPR 136. However, such control may be inefficient in thatit reduces the capacity of the condenser system 140 by lowering thelocal condensing pressure seen by the condenser system 140. There is noenergy benefit to this type of control as it neither (i) reduces thedischarge pressure in HG refrigerant conduit 28 (e.g., the dischargepressure impacts the compressor energy, the lower the discharge pressurethe more efficient the compressor system 20 may operate, etc.) nor (ii)reduces the condenser system energy. If the liquid refrigerant levelwithin the CPR 136 falls too far (e.g., below a minimum threshold,etc.), refrigerant flow to the evaporator systems may be shut off untilthe liquid refrigerant level in the CPR 136 returns to a desired level.Shutting the evaporators off may cause large and inefficient swings incompressor loading and consequential swings in condensing pressure.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the refrigeration system 10 of thepresent disclosure is controlled by the controller 60 according to amore consistent approach of modulating both the refrigerant flow intothe CPR 136 from the condenser system 140 and modulating the refrigerantflow out of the CPR 136 to the first evaporator system 160 and/or thesecond evaporator system 180. Modulating both of the inlet and outletflows of the CPR 136 allows for precise and stable control of therefrigerant level in each CPR 136.

As a first step, the liquid refrigeration level within the CPR 136 iscontrolled by the controller 60 by modulating the local condensercapacity of the condenser system 140 to provide a desired mass flow ofliquid refrigerant into the CPR 136. As described above, the capacitycontrol of the condenser system 140 may depend on the type of localcondenser of the respective CES module 102.

By way of example, the capacity (and therefore the condensed refrigerantliquid flow out of the condenser system 140) for adiabatic condensers,dry/air-cooled condensers, or evaporative condensers is controlled bythe controller 60 by modulating the condenser fan speed setpoint of thecondenser fan 144. The capacity of the condenser system 140 may beapproximately proportional to the condenser airflow provided across tothe condenser conduit 142 by the condenser fan 144. The condenserairflow is directly proportional to the condenser fan speed setpoint ofthe condenser fan 144. Due to the fan affinity laws, the energy of thecondenser fan 144 is proportional to the cube of the condenser fan speedsetpoint of the condenser fan 144. Therefore, if only half the capacityof the condenser system 140 is required, only about half the airflow andconsequently only about one eighth of the energy to operate thecondenser fan 144 may be required. Relative to traditional systems,where if only half the capacity of the condenser system 140 is required,the HG condensing valve 146 is modulated partially shut, reducing thecondensing pressure and capacity of the condenser system 140 by makingthe local condensing conditions more difficult. However, to produce thereduced capacity at these more difficult conditions requires the sameoriginal full condenser fan speed, leading to inefficient operation ofthe condenser system 140 (e.g., since there is no reduction in condenserfan energy, etc.). Thus, the condenser system 140 of the presentdisclosure provides energy savings relative to traditional systems.

By way of another example, the capacity for plate-frame condensers,shell and tube condensers, and/or shell and plate condensers may becontrolled by the controller 60 by modulating the working fluid flowprovided to the plate-frame condenser, the shell and tube condenser,and/or the shell and plate condenser from the fluid cooler 40.Modulating the working cooling fluid flow instead of modulating thegaseous refrigerant flow into the condenser system 140 with the HGcondensing valve 146 has at least two system energy benefits. First, theenergy of the cooler pump 42 is reduced as the working cooling fluidflow is reduced as the required capacity of the condenser system 140reduces. Second, reducing the working fluid flow maintains thetemperature range on the fluid cooler 40 used to reject the heat to theatmosphere. Maintaining the temperature range of the fluid cooler 40facilitates rejecting heat to the atmosphere more efficiently (e.g.,requires less fluid cooler fan energy, etc.).

As a second step, the liquid refrigeration level within the CPR 136 iscontrolled by the controller 60 by modulating the flow of the liquidrefrigerant out of the CPR 136 (e.g., when condenser control may notmaintain a desired liquid level in the CPR 136, etc.). The control ofthe flow of the liquid refrigerant may be controlled in two ways. In afirst example, the controller 60 may control the capacity of the firstevaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180 bymodulating the first evaporator fan speed setpoint of the firstevaporator fan 164 and the second evaporator fan speed setpoint of thesecond evaporator fan 184, respectively. Again, similar to airflow on acondenser, modulating the capacity of the first evaporator system 160and/or the second evaporator system 180 by controlling the firstevaporator fan speed setpoint of the first evaporator fan 164 and thesecond evaporator fan speed setpoint of the second evaporator fan 184,respectively, may be highly energy efficient due to the fan affinitylaws. Not only may this reduce the fan energy associated with the firstevaporator fan 164 and/or the second evaporator fan 184, but it may alsoreduce the heat energy produced by the respective fans. Reducing theheat produced by the fans may reduce the total amount of heat that therefrigeration system 10 has to remove from the conditioned space. In asecond example, the controller 60 may additionally or alternativelycontrol the capacity of the first evaporator system 160 and/or thesecond evaporator system 180 by adjusting the first superheat setpointof the first evaporator expansion valve 166 and the second superheatsetpoint of the second evaporator expansion valve 186, respectively. Forexample, with a fixed room temperature and low side suction pressure,increasing the superheat setting for the expansion valves may reduce theflow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator systems from the CPR 136as the expansion valves throttle back liquid refrigerant flow toincrease the refrigerant superheat at the outlet of the evaporators.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 60 is furtherconfigured to control all of the active CES modules 102 to providecoordinated head pressure control (e.g., for the compressor system 20,etc.). Such coordinated head pressure may provide efficient and stableoperation of the refrigeration system 10 as a whole, consistent withmeeting each evaporator's refrigerant requirements. For example,reducing head pressure of the compressor 22 may be an effective way toreduce compressor energy. The energy required to operate the compressorsystem 20 is typically the largest contributor to the overall energy ofthe refrigeration system 10. Therefore, as ambient temperature and loadconditions change, the capacity of the condenser systems 140 of eachactive CES module 102 may be controlled to produce a compressor headpressure that results in the lowest overall energy use to operate therefrigeration system 10 while still maintaining adequate head pressureto meet the refrigerant needs of each evaporator system.

Thus, the controller 60 may be configured to operate the refrigerationsystem 10 and each of the active CES modules 102 to minimize the headpressure of the compressor system 20. Such operation may include thecontroller 60 first determining which CES module 102 of therefrigeration system 10 is operating at the highest condenser capacitystage (e.g., based on the condenser fan setpoint of the condenser fan144, based on the flow rate of the working fluid from the fluid cooler40, to take into account the condensing head pressure requirement of allthe CES modules 102, etc.). The controller 60 may then designate the CESmodule 102 operating at the highest condenser capacity stage as the leadCES module. The lead CES module is not fixed however, but may shift asload conditions change on each individual CES module 102. Changingsystem head pressure impacts the capacity of the condenser systems 140,which in turn impacts the ability of the condenser systems 140 togenerate liquid refrigerant flow into the respective CPRs 136. Thecontroller 60 may be further configured to set the minimum head pressurerequirement for all the CES modules 102 of the refrigeration system 10to the head pressure requirement of the lead CES module 102 (e.g.,independently controlling the head pressure on any of the othercondenser systems 140 to drive the system head pressure lower may leadto a lack of condenser capacity and therefore the lack of liquidrefrigerant to meet the required evaporator load on the lead CES module102, etc.). Thus, the controller 60, by taking the aforementionedfactors into account, may continuously evaluate the condenser capacitystages of all active CES modules 102 in the refrigeration system 10 andcontrol the minimum system head pressure leading to the most efficientoperation of the compressor system 20, while assuring that the lead CESmodule (e.g., when operating at its maximum condenser stage, etc.) hassufficient liquid refrigerant to meet the cooling demand.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 60 is configured tooperate the subcooler system 200 while at least one of the firstevaporator system 160 and the second evaporator system 180 are operatingin the cooling mode (e.g., during the cooling mode only, etc.). Thecontroller 60 may thereby operate the subcooler system 200 (e.g., thesubcooler valve 226, etc.) in an active mode when a cooling operation isdesired and an inactive mode when a cooling operation is not desired.According to an exemplary embodiment, operating the subcooler system 200only during the cooling mode minimizes the mass flow of working fluidrequired to sub-cool the liquid refrigerant flowing from the CPR 136 tothe first evaporator system 160 and/or the second evaporator system 180,as well as minimizes the energy required to operate the refrigerationsystem 10. By way of example, only the subcooler systems 200 that areneeded at a given moment may be operating which may reduce energyconsumption, as well as any capacity penalty on the compressor system20. Conversely, a subcooler used in a traditional centralized condensingrefrigeration system sub-cools all the liquid refrigerant from thecondenser regardless of the number of evaporators in operation which mayhave a greater impact on the capacity penalty at the compressor. In oneembodiment, the controller 60 implements the control scheme representedin FIGS. 7-17 when the CES modules 102 include the subcooler systems200. In other embodiments, the controller 60 implements any suitablecontrol scheme.

Accordingly, the refrigeration system 10 having CES modules 102 withdecentralized subcooler systems 200 provides various advantages relativeto traditional centralized condensing refrigeration systems that mayinclude a subcooler. First, a decentralized subcooler may provideoptimized distributed liquid refrigerant sub-cooling. By way of example,the subcooler system 200 may only operate when at least one of theevaporators from a respective CES module 102 is in operation. This mayminimize the mass flow of the second evaporated gaseous refrigerant usedto sub-cool the first portion of the liquid refrigerant at the entranceof the expansion valves. The second evaporated gaseous refrigerant maybe returned to the compressor system 20. Therefore, the capacity penaltyat the compressor system 20 may be minimized. A subcooler used in atraditional centralized condensing refrigeration system sub-cools allthe liquid refrigerant from the condenser regardless of the number ofevaporators in operation which has a greater impact on the capacitypenalty at the compressor. Second, a decentralized subcooler may providereduced pressure sub-cooling. By way of example, the subcooler system200 may be located after the CPR 136 within the CES module 102. Suchpositioning may minimize the mass flow of the second evaporated gaseousrefrigerant used to sub-cool the first portion of the liquid refrigerantprovided to the expansion valves and minimizes the compressor capacitypenalty. A subcooler used in a traditional centralized condensingrefrigeration system sub-cools the liquid after the condenser where thesystem pressure is the highest. A larger pressure drop increases thevaporized liquid and increases the compressor capacity penalty. Third, adecentralized subcooler may provide localized sub-cooling. By way ofexample, the subcooler system 200 may be located within the CES module102 at or above the height of the evaporator(s). Such elevation andclose proximity to the evaporator(s) may minimize the requiredsub-cooling needed to ensure liquid at the entrance to the expansionvalves. A subcooler used in a traditional centralized condensingrefrigeration system is typically located in the engine room which maybe fifteen feet or more below the elevation of the evaporators and atsignificantly greater horizontal distances. Fourth, a decentralizedsubcooler may provide optimized operation of the expansion valves (e.g.,the first evaporator expansion valve 166, the second evaporatorexpansion valve 186, etc.). By way of example, the subcooler system 200may provide sufficient liquid refrigerant sub-cooling to overcome thepressure losses in the piping, valves, and/or strainers within the CESmodule 102. Such localized sub-cooling may optimize the operation of theexpansion valves by controlling the liquid refrigerant temperature atthe entrance of each expansion valve. A subcooler used in traditionalcentralized condensing refrigeration system will provide varying liquidrefrigerant temperatures at the entrance of each expansion valve basedon the relative pressure losses and distances between the subcooler andeach expansion valve. Fifth, a decentralized subcooler may provideoptimized performance of the evaporators (e.g., the first evaporatorsystem 160, the second evaporator system 180, etc.). By way of example,since the localized sub-cooling may optimize the operation of theexpansion valves, the refrigerant flow after the expansion valves anddistribution within the evaporators may also be optimized. The qualityof the refrigerant entering each evaporator may thereby be moreconsistent than a traditional centralized condensing refrigerationsystem with a subcooler.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, methods 700, 800, 900, and 1000 forcontrolling a module of a decentralized condenser evaporator system toperform a cooling operation are shown according to an exampleembodiment. In one example embodiment, methods 700, 800, 900, and 1000may be implemented with the CES 100 and the controller 60 of FIGS. 1-6,18, and 19. As such, methods 700, 800, 900, and 1000 may be describedwith regard to FIGS. 1-6, 18, and 19.

Referring to FIG. 7, at step 702, the controller 60 of the refrigerationsystem 10 is configured to determine whether a temperature of a zone(e.g., a temperature controlled zone, a refrigerated zone, a first zoneassociated with the first evaporator system 160, a second zoneassociated with the second evaporator system 180, etc.) associated witha CES module (e.g., the CES module 102, etc.) is greater than atemperature setpoint (e.g., a refrigeration temperature, a freezertemperature, etc.). At step 704, the controller 60 is configured toinitiate a standby mode of the CES module in response to the temperaturebeing less than the temperature setpoint. Referring to FIG. 8, thecontroller 60 is configured to initiate the standby mode of the CESmodule according to method 800. At step 802, the controller 60 isconfigured to close various valves (e.g., the HG condensing valve 146,the HSS valve 148, the first evaporator inlet valve 150, the secondevaporator inlet valve 170, the first evaporator outlet valve 152, thesecond evaporator outlet valve 172, the first evaporator inlet defrostvalve 154, the second evaporator inlet defrost valve 174, the firstevaporator outlet defrost valve 156, the second evaporator outletdefrost valve 176, etc.) of the CES module to prevent a refrigerant fromflowing into and out of the CES module. At step 804, the controller 60is configured to set an evaporator system (e.g., the first evaporatorsystem 160, the second evaporator system 180, etc.) of the CES module toa ready mode (e.g., in preparation for a cooling operation, etc.).

Referring back to FIG. 7, at step 706, the controller 60 is configuredto initiate an active mode of the CES module in response to thetemperature being greater than the temperature setpoint (e.g., for thefirst zone associated with the first evaporator system 160 and/or thesecond zone associated with the second evaporator system 180, etc.). Atstep 708, the controller 60 is configured to open a hot gas condensingvalve (e.g., the HG condensing valve 146, etc.) to allow a gaseousrefrigerant (e.g., a high pressure gaseous refrigerant, etc.) from acompressor system (e.g., the compressor system 20, etc.) to flow into acondenser system (e.g., the condenser system 140, etc.) of the CESmodule. The condenser system is configured to perform a condensingoperation to condense at least a portion of the gaseous refrigerant intoa liquid refrigerant for storage in a controlled pressure receiver(e.g., the CPR 136, etc.). At step 710, the controller 60 is configuredto initiate a cooling mode of the evaporator system.

Referring to FIG. 9, the controller 60 is configured to initiate thecooling mode of the evaporator system according to method 900. At step902, the controller 60 is configured to set an evaporator fan (e.g., thefirst evaporator fan 164, the second evaporator fan 184, etc.) to anevaporator fan setpoint (e.g., a desired speed, an initial speed, etc.).In embodiments where the CES modules include a subcooler system (e.g.,the subcooler system 200, etc.), the controller 60 may be configured toperform step 903. At step 903, the controller 60 is configured to open asubcooler valve (e.g., the subcooler valve 226, etc.) of the subcoolersystem such that a first portion of the liquid refrigerant enters asubcooler expansion valve (e.g., the subcooler expansion valve 228 ofthe cooling circuit 220, etc.) before entering a subcooler (e.g., thesubcooler 202, etc.) and a second portion of the liquid refrigerantenters the subcooler directly (e.g., via the refrigerant circuit 210,etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, the subcooler expansionvalve is configured to lower the pressure and the temperature of thefirst portion of the working fluid such that the first portion of theliquid refrigerant vaporizes into an evaporated gaseous refrigerant. Thesecond portion of the liquid refrigerant and the evaporated gaseousrefrigerant may both flow through the subcooler such that heat istransferred from the second portion of the liquid refrigerant to thelower temperature evaporated gaseous refrigerant (e.g., sub-cooling thesecond portion of the liquid refrigerant, etc.).

At step 904, the controller 60 is configured to open an evaporator inletvalve (e.g., the first evaporator inlet valve 150, the second evaporatorinlet valve 170, etc.) to allow (i) the liquid refrigerant from thecontrolled pressure receiver (e.g., in embodiments that do not includethe subcooler system 200, etc.) or (ii) the second portion of the liquidrefrigerant from the subcooler (e.g., the sub-cooler liquid refrigerant,in embodiments that include the subcooler system 200, etc.) to flow intothe evaporator system. At step 906, the controller 60 is configured toset an evaporator expansion valve (e.g., the first evaporator expansionvalve 166, the second evaporator expansion valve 186, etc.) to asuperheat setpoint (e.g., a desired superheat setpoint, an initialsuperheat setpoint, etc.). The evaporator system is configured toperform an evaporation operation to evaporate the liquid refrigerantinto a gaseous refrigerant to cool air of a surrounding environment orzone. At step 908, the controller 60 is configured to open an evaporatoroutlet valve (e.g., the first evaporator outlet valve 152, the secondevaporator outlet valve 172, etc.) to allow the gaseous refrigerant toexit the evaporator system and the CES module such that the gaseousrefrigerant (e.g., a low pressure gaseous refrigerant, etc.) returns tothe compressor system (e.g., for recompression to increase thetemperature and pressure thereof, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 10, the controller 60 is configured to controloperation of the CES module during the active cooling mode according tomethod 1000. At step 1002, the controller 60 is configured to determinewhether the temperature of the zone associated with the CES module isstill greater than the temperature setpoint. If the temperature is lessthan the temperature setpoint, the controller 60 is configured toproceed to step 1004. If the temperature is greater than the temperaturesetpoint, the controller 60 is configured to proceed to step 1008. Atstep 1004, the controller 60 is configured to initiate a pumpdown modeof the evaporator system (e.g., preparing to initiate the standby modeof the CES module, shutting of the evaporator fan, etc.). At step 1006,the controller 60 is configured to close the evaporator inlet valve, theevaporator expansion valve, and the evaporator outlet valve, and thenreturn step 702.

At step 1008, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether alevel of the liquid refrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver iswithin a liquid refrigerant range. If the level of the liquidrefrigerant is less than the liquid refrigerant range, the controller 60is configured to proceed to step 1010. If the level of the liquidrefrigerant is greater than the liquid refrigerant range, the controller60 is configured to proceed to step 1024. At step 1010, the controller60 is configured determine whether the condenser system is operating ata maximum stage of the condenser system. At step 1012, the controller 60is configured to increase the stage of the condenser system (e.g., ofthe condenser fan 144, of the fluid cooler 40, etc.) by a predefinedincrease amount in response to the current stage of the condenser systembeing less than the maximum stage to increase the amount of gaseousrefrigerant converted to liquid refrigerant. According to oneembodiment, the predefined increase amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%,a 10%, a 25%, etc. increase, of a condenser fan speed setpoint, of aflow rate of a working cooling fluid such as glycol, etc.). According toan exemplary embodiment, increasing the stage of the condenser systemincreases the capacities thereof (e.g., the amount of refrigerant thecondenser system is capable of converting from gas to liquid, etc.). Thecontroller 60 may then return to step 1008. If the increase in the stageof the condenser system does not increase the level of the liquidrefrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver, the controller 60 mayproceed to step 1012 to increase the stage of the condenser system againand/or to step 1014.

At step 1014, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thecurrent evaporator fan setpoint of the evaporator fan (e.g., the speedat which the evaporator fan is currently operating, etc.) is greaterthan a minimum speed of the evaporator fan. At step 1016, the controller60 is configured to decrease the evaporator fan setpoint to reduce thespeed of the evaporator fan by a predefined decrease amount in responseto the evaporator fan operating at a speed greater than the minimumspeed of the evaporator fan to reduce the amount of liquid refrigerantconverted to gaseous refrigerant by the evaporator system. According toone embodiment, the predefined decrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a5%, a 10%, a 25%, etc. decrease of the evaporator fan speed setpoint,etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, decreasing the evaporatorfan setpoint decreases the capacity of the evaporator system (e.g., theamount of refrigerant the evaporator system is capable of convertingfrom liquid to gas, etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step1008. If the decrease in the evaporator fan setpoint does not increasethe level of the liquid refrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver,the controller 60 may proceed to step 1012 to increase the stage of thecondenser system again, to step 1016 to decrease the speed of theevaporator fan again, and/or to step 1018.

At step 1018, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thesuperheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve is less than amaximum superheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve. At step1020, the controller 60 is configured to increase the superheat setpointof the evaporator expansion valve by a predefined increase amount inresponse to the superheat value of the evaporator expansion valve beingless than the maximum superheat setpoint to reduce the amount of liquidrefrigerant that flows into the evaporator system from the controlledpressure receiver. According to one embodiment, the predefined increaseamount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%, etc. increase of theevaporator expansion valve superheat setpoint, etc.). The controller 60may then return to step 1008. If the increase in the superheat setpointof the evaporator expansion valve does not increase the level of theliquid refrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver, the controller60 may proceed to step 1012 to increase the stage of the condensersystem again, to step 1016 to decrease the speed of the evaporator fanagain, to step 1020 to increase the superheat setpoint of the evaporatorexpansion valve again, and/or to step 1022. At step 1022, the controller60 is configured to turn off the evaporator system (e.g., until thelevel of liquid refrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver iswithin the liquid refrigerant range, in response to the superheatsetpoint reaching the maximum superheat setpoint, etc.). The controllermay then return to step 1008.

At step 1024, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thesuperheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve is greater than aminimum superheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve. At step1026, the controller 60 is configured to decrease the superheat setpointof the evaporator expansion valve by a predefined decrease amount inresponse to the superheat value of the evaporator expansion valve beinggreater than the minimum superheat setpoint to increase the amount ofliquid refrigerant that flows into the evaporator system from thecontrolled pressure receiver. According to one embodiment, thepredefined decrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%,etc. decrease of the evaporator expansion valve superheat setpoint,etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step 1008. If the decreasein the superheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve does notreduce the level of the liquid refrigerant in the controlled pressurereceiver, the controller 60 may proceed to step 1026 to decrease thesuperheat setpoint again and/or to step 1028.

At step 1028, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thecurrent evaporator fan setpoint of the evaporator fan (e.g., the speedat which the evaporator fan is currently operating, etc.) is less than amaximum speed of the evaporator fan. At step 1030, the controller 60 isconfigured to increase the evaporator fan setpoint to increase the speedof the evaporator fan by a predefined increase amount in response to theevaporator fan operating at a speed less than the maximum speed of theevaporator fan to increase the amount of liquid refrigerant converted togaseous refrigerant by the evaporator system. According to oneembodiment, the predefined increase amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%,a 10%, a 25%, etc. increase of the evaporator fan speed setpoint, etc.).According to an exemplary embodiment, increasing the evaporator fansetpoint increases the capacity of the evaporator system (e.g., theamount of refrigerant the evaporator system is capable of convertingfrom liquid to gas, etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step1008. If the increase in the evaporator fan setpoint does not reduce thelevel of the liquid refrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver, thecontroller 60 may proceed to step 1026 to decrease the superheatsetpoint again, proceed to step 1030 to increase the evaporator fansetpoint again, and/or to step 1032.

At step 1032, the controller 60 is configured to decrease the stage ofthe condenser system (e.g., decreasing the speed of the condenser fan144, decreasing the output flow rate of the fluid cooler 40, etc.) by apredefined decrease amount (e.g., until the condenser system has to beturned off, etc.) in response to the evaporator fan setpoint reachingthe maximum speed of the evaporator fan. According to one embodiment,the predefined decrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a25%, etc. decrease, of a condenser fan speed setpoint, of a flow rate ofa working cooling fluid such as glycol, etc.). The controller 60 maythen return to step 1008. If the level of the liquid refrigerant in thecontrolled pressure receiver is returned to within the liquidrefrigerant range, the controller 60 is configured to return to step1002. It should be noted that the controller 60 may perform steps1010-1022 and steps 1024-1032 is a stepped manner (e.g., wait for thethreshold value to be reached before continuing to the subsequent step,etc.) or a serial manner (e.g., increase/decrease the respectiveparameter then move to the subsequent step and then move back to thebeginning once each step has been performed, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 11, method 1100 for controlling a module of adecentralized condenser evaporator system to perform a defrost operationis shown according to an example embodiment. In one example embodiment,method 1100 may be implemented with the CES 100 and the controller 60 ofFIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 18, and 19. As such, method 1100 may be described withregard to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 18, and 19.

At step 1102, a defrost timer is set within the controller 60 of therefrigeration system 10 for an evaporator system (e.g., the firstevaporator system 160, the second evaporator system 180, etc.) of adecentralized condenser evaporator system (e.g., the CES module 102 ofthe CES 100, etc.). The defrost timer may be preset within thecontroller 60, selected by an operator of the refrigeration system 10,and/or still otherwise set. According to an exemplary embodiment, thedefrost timer sets a time (e.g., six hours, four hours, twelve hours,etc.) between defrost operations of the evaporator system. In oneembodiment, the time is determined based on operating time of theevaporator system between defrost operations. In other embodiments, thetime is determined based on elapsed time between defrost operations ofthe evaporator system.

At step 1104, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thedefrost timer has reached a target time (e.g., an operating timethreshold, an elapsed time threshold, etc.). If the target time has notbeen reached, the controller 60 waits for the target time to be reached.If the target time is reached, the controller 60 is configure to stop acooling mode of the evaporator system (e.g., if currently operating in acooling mode, etc.) and evaporate (e.g., boil out, etc.) any remainingliquid refrigerant that may be within the evaporator system tofacilitate initiating a defrost mode of the evaporator system (step1106).

At step 1108, the controller 60 is configured to close an evaporatorinlet valve (e.g., the first evaporator inlet valve 150, the secondevaporator inlet valve 170, etc.) to prevent a liquid refrigerant fromentering the evaporator system from a controlled pressure receiver(e.g., the CPR 136, etc.). At step 1110, the controller 60 is configuredto close an evaporator outlet valve (e.g., the first evaporator outletvalve 152, the second evaporator outlet valve 172, etc.) to prevent agaseous refrigerant from exiting the evaporator system to a remotecompressor system. At step 1112, the controller 60 is configured tocontrol a hot gas pressure regulator (e.g., the HG defrost pressureregulator 190, etc.) and/or open an evaporator inlet defrost valve(e.g., the first evaporator inlet defrost valve 154, the secondevaporator inlet defrost valve 174, etc.) to allow the gaseousrefrigerant to flow into the evaporator system from the remotecompressor system (e.g., the compressor system 20, etc.). At step 1114,the controller 60 is configured to open an evaporator outlet defrostvalve (e.g., the first evaporator outlet defrost valve 156, the secondevaporator outlet defrost valve 176, etc.) to allow liquid refrigerant(e.g., condensed from the gaseous refrigerant flowing into theevaporator system, etc.) to flow into the controlled pressure receiver.At step 1116, the controller 60 is configured to reset the defrost timerand return to step 1104 of method 1100. In some embodiments, the defrostoperation of the evaporator system may additionally or alternatively beinitiated based on an operator command and/or a remote command sent tothe controller 60. In some embodiments, the defrost operation of theevaporator system may be initiated in-between cooling operation cyclesof the evaporator system.

Referring now to FIG. 12, method 1200 for controlling a plurality ofmodules of a decentralized condenser evaporator system is shownaccording to an example embodiment. In one example embodiment, method1200 may be implemented with the CES 100 and the controller 60 of FIGS.1-2 and 6. As such, method 1200 may be described with regard to FIGS.1-2 and 6.

At step 1202, the controller 60 of the refrigeration system 10 isconfigured to determine which condenser system (e.g., the condensersystem 140, etc.) of all active CES modules (e.g., the CES modules 102,etc.) is currently operation at the highest stage. The controller 60 isthen configured to designate the CES module associated with the higheststage condenser system as the lead CES module. At step 1204, thecontroller 60 is configured to determine the type of condenser includedwithin the highest stage condenser system. If the condenser systemincludes an adiabatic condenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporativecondenser, and/or another type of condenser that includes a fan, thecontroller 60 is configured to proceed to step 1206. If the condensersystem includes a plate/frame condenser, a shell and tube condenser, ashell and plate condenser, and/or another type of condenser that doesnot include a fan, the controller 60 is configured to proceed to step1218.

At step 1206, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether asystem condensing pressure (e.g., the pressure of the gaseousrefrigerant entering the condenser system 140, the compressor headpressure, etc.) is greater than a minimum condensing pressure. At step1208, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether the higheststage condenser system is operating at a current stage that is less thana maximum stage of the highest stage condenser system in response to thesystem condensing pressure being greater than the minimum condensingpressure. At step 1210, the controller 60 is configured to increase thestage of the condenser system (e.g., increasing the speed of thecondenser fan 144, etc.) of all active CES modules by a predefinedincrease amount in response to both the system condensing pressure beinggreater than the minimum condensing pressure and the current stage ofthe highest stage condenser system being less than the maximum stage ofthe highest stage condenser system. Otherwise, the controller 60 isconfigured to return to step 1202 in response to the current stage ofthe highest stage condenser system being at the maximum stage of thehighest stage condenser system. According to one embodiment, thepredefined increase amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%,etc. increase, of a condenser fan speed setpoint, etc.). According to anexemplary embodiment, increasing the stage of the condenser system ofall active CES modules by the predefined increase amount reduces thesystem condensing pressure (e.g., which may lead to more efficientoperation of the compressor system 20, etc.). Increasing the stage ofthe condenser systems may increase the individual capacities thereof(e.g., the amount of refrigerant the condenser systems are capable ofconverting from gas to liquid, etc.), while decreasing the systemcondensing pressure may decrease the capacity of the condenser systems.The net result may be approximately neutral, however if not, thecontroller 60 may control the individual CES modules according to method1000 to maintain the desired liquid refrigerant level in each centralpressure receiver. At step 1212, the controller 60 is configured to seta first timer (e.g., ten minutes, eight minutes, six minutes, etc.) andthen return to step 1202 once the time of the first timer elapses.

At step 1214, the controller 60 is configured to decrease the stage ofthe condenser system of all active CES modules by a predefined decreaseamount in response to the system condensing pressure being less than theminimum condensing pressure. According to one embodiment, the predefineddecrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%, etc.decrease, etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, decreasing thestage of the condenser system of all active CES modules by thepredefined decrease amount increases the system condensing pressure. Atstep 1216, the controller 60 is configured to set a second timer (e.g.,two minutes, etc.) and then return to step 1202 once the time of thesecond timer elapses. According to an exemplary embodiment, the secondtimer is less than the first timer such that the controller 60 is ableto monitor changes within the refrigeration system 10 more frequentlyand is able to react more quickly to a low system condensing pressure(e.g., to return the refrigeration system 10 back to the minimum systemcondensing pressure, etc.).

At step 1218, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether asystem condensing pressure (e.g., the pressure of the gaseousrefrigerant exiting the condenser system 140 and/or entering thecondenser system 140, the compressor head pressure, etc.) is greaterthan the minimum condensing pressure. At step 1220, the controller 60 isconfigured to determine whether the highest stage condenser system isoperating at a current stage that is less than a maximum stage of thehighest stage condenser system in response to the system condensingpressure being greater than the minimum condensing pressure. If thesystem condensing pressure is greater than the minimum condensingpressure and the current stage of the highest stage condenser system isat the maximum stage of the highest stage condenser system, thecontroller 60 is configured to increase the stage of a central fluidcooler (e.g., the fluid cooler 40, etc.) by the predefined increaseamount (step 1222). Increasing the stage of the central fluid coolerdecreases the temperature of the working cooling fluid (e.g., glycol,etc.) through the condenser system of all active CES modules (e.g.,thereby increasing the capacity of the individual condenser systems thathave plate/frame condensers, shell and tube condensers, shell and platecondensers, etc.) to reduce the system condensing pressure (e.g., byconverting more gaseous refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, which therebydecreases the capacity of the individual condenser systems, etc.).Again, the controller 60 may control the individual CES modulesaccording to method 1000 to maintain the desired liquid refrigerantlevel in each central pressure receiver. At step 1224, the controller 60is configured to set the first timer and then return to step 1202 oncethe time of the first timer elapses. If the system condensing pressureis greater than the minimum condensing pressure and the current stage ofthe highest stage condenser system is less than the maximum stage of thehighest stage condenser system, the controller 60 is configured todecrease the stage of the central fluid cooler by the predefineddecrease amount (step 1226) and then proceed to step 1224.

If the system condensing pressure is less than the minimum condensingpressure, the controller 60 is configured to decrease the stage of thecentral fluid cooler by the predefined decrease amount (step 1228).Decreasing the stage of the central fluid cooler decreases the flow ofworking cooling fluid (e.g., glycol, etc.) through the condenser systemof all active CES modules (e.g., decreasing the capacity of theindividual condenser systems that have plate/frame condensers, shell andtube condensers, shell and plate condensers, etc.) to increase thesystem condensing pressure (e.g., by converting less gaseous refrigerantto liquid refrigerant, which thereby increases the capacity of theindividual condenser systems, etc.). Again, the controller 60 maycontrol the individual CES modules according to method 1000 to maintainthe desired liquid refrigerant level in each central pressure receiver.At step 1230, the controller 60 is configured to set the second timerand then return to step 1202 once the time of the second timer elapses.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-17, methods 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700for controlling a decentralized condenser evaporator system (e.g., theCES 100, etc.) are shown according to an example embodiment. In oneexample embodiment, methods 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 may beimplemented with the CES 100 and the controller 60 of FIGS. 1-6, 18, and19. As such, methods 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 may be describedwith regard to FIGS. 1-6, 18, and 19.

Referring to FIG. 13, at step 1302 (e.g., continuing from step 908 ofFIG. 9), the controller 60 of the refrigeration system 10 is configuredto determine whether a temperature of a zone (e.g., a temperaturecontrolled zone, a refrigerated zone, a first zone associated with thefirst evaporator system 160, a second zone associated with the secondevaporator system 180, etc.) associated with a CES module (e.g., the CESmodule 102, etc.) is less than a temperature setpoint (e.g., arefrigeration temperature, a freezer temperature, etc.) and anevaporator system (e.g., the first evaporator system 160, the secondevaporator system 180, etc.) is in a ready mode. At step 1304, thecontroller 60 is configured to initiate a standby mode of the CES modulein response to the temperature being less than the temperature setpoint(e.g., of all associated evaporators, etc.). At step 1306, thecontroller 60 is configured to close various valves (e.g., the HGcondensing valve 146, the HSS valve 148, the first evaporator inletvalve 150, the second evaporator inlet valve 170, the first evaporatoroutlet valve 152, the second evaporator outlet valve 172, the firstevaporator inlet defrost valve 154, the second evaporator inlet defrostvalve 174, the first evaporator outlet defrost valve 156, the secondevaporator outlet defrost valve 176, etc.) of the CES module to preventa refrigerant from flowing (i) into and out of the CES module (e.g., viathe HG condensing valve 146, the HSS valve 148, etc.) and (ii) into(e.g., via the first evaporator inlet valve 150, the second evaporatorinlet valve 170, the first evaporator inlet defrost valve 154, thesecond evaporator inlet defrost valve 174, etc.) and, after a timedelay, out of (e.g., via the first evaporator outlet valve 152, thesecond evaporator outlet valve 172, first evaporator outlet defrostvalve 156, the second evaporator outlet defrost valve 176, etc.) theevaporator system of the CES module. The associated evaporators may thenbe set to a ready mode. The controller 60 may then return to step 1302.

At step 1308, the controller 60 is configured to initiate and/orcontinue an active mode of the CES module in response to a zonetemperature being greater than the temperature setpoint or an evaporatorbeing in a defrost mode (e.g., for the first zone associated with thefirst evaporator system 160 and/or the second zone associated with thesecond evaporator system 180, etc.). At step 1310, the controller 60 isconfigured to determine whether the temperature of the zone is greaterthan the temperature setpoint and the evaporator system is in the readymode or a cooling mode. At step 1312, the controller 60 is configured todetermine whether the evaporator system is in the cooling mode. If no,the controller 60 is configured to initiate the cooling mode of theevaporator system (step 1314) and proceed to method 1400. If yes, thecontroller 60 is configured to proceed to method 1500. At step 1316, thecontroller 60 is configured to stop a defrost activation time inresponse to the evaporator system not being in the ready mode or thecooling mode and proceed to method 1500.

Referring to FIG. 14, the controller 60 is configured to initiate thecooling mode of the evaporator system according to method 1400. At step1402, the controller 60 is configured to set an evaporator fan (e.g.,the first evaporator fan 164, the second evaporator fan 184, etc.) to anevaporator fan setpoint (e.g., a desired speed, an initial speed, amaximum speed, etc.). At step 1404, the controller 60 is configured toopen an evaporator inlet valve (e.g., the first evaporator inlet valve150, the second evaporator inlet valve 170, etc.) to allow the liquidrefrigerant from a controlled pressure receiver (e.g., the CPR 136,etc.) to flow into the evaporator system. At step 1406, the controller60 is configured to set an evaporator expansion valve (e.g., the firstevaporator expansion valve 166, the second evaporator expansion valve186, etc.) to a superheat setpoint (e.g., a desired superheat setpoint,an initial superheat setpoint, etc.). The evaporator system isconfigured to perform an evaporation operation to evaporate the liquidrefrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant to cool air of a surroundingenvironment or zone. At step 1408, the controller 60 is configured toopen an evaporator outlet valve (e.g., the first evaporator outlet valve152, the second evaporator outlet valve 172, etc.) to allow the gaseousrefrigerant to exit the evaporator system and the CES module such thatthe gaseous refrigerant (e.g., a low pressure gaseous refrigerant, etc.)returns to the compressor system (e.g., for recompression to increasethe temperature and pressure thereof, etc.). At step 1410, thecontroller 60 is configured to start/or continue the defrost activationtimer of the evaporator system and then proceed to method 1500.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the controller 60 is configured to controloperation of the CES module during the active cooling mode according tomethod 1500. At step 1502, the controller 60 is configured to determinewhether the temperature of the zone associated with the CES module isstill greater than the temperature setpoint. If the temperature is lessthan the temperature setpoint, the controller 60 is configured toproceed to step 1504. If the temperature is greater than the temperaturesetpoint, the controller 60 is configured to proceed to step 1508. Atstep 1504, the controller 60 is configured to initiate a pumpdown modeof the evaporator system (e.g., preparing to initiate the standby modeof the CES module, shutting of the evaporator fan, etc.). At step 1506,the controller 60 is configured to close the evaporator inlet valve, theevaporator expansion valve, and, after a predetermined time, theevaporator outlet valve, and then return step 1302.

At step 1508, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether alevel of the liquid refrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver iswithin a liquid refrigerant level range. If the level of the liquidrefrigerant is less than the liquid refrigerant level range, thecontroller 60 is configured to proceed to step 1510. If the level of theliquid refrigerant is greater than the liquid refrigerant level range,the controller 60 is configured to proceed to step 1524. If therefrigerant level is within the liquid refrigerant level range, thecontroller 60 is configured to return to step 1302. At step 1510, thecontroller 60 is configured determine whether a condenser system of theCES module is operating at a maximum stage of the condenser system. Atstep 1512, the controller 60 is configured to increase the stage of thecondenser system (e.g., of the condenser fan 144, of the fluid cooler40, etc.) by a predefined increase amount in response to the currentstage of the condenser system being less than the maximum stage toincrease the amount of gaseous refrigerant converted to liquidrefrigerant. According to one embodiment, the predefined increase amountis a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%, etc. increase, of a condenserfan speed setpoint, of a flow rate of a working cooling fluid such asglycol, etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, increasing thestage of the condenser system increases the capacities thereof (e.g.,the amount of refrigerant the condenser system is capable of convertingfrom gas to liquid, etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step1508 or proceed to method 1600 (e.g., if the defrost activation timerhas expired, etc.). If the increase in the stage of the condenser systemdoes not increase the level of the liquid refrigerant in the controlledpressure receiver, the controller 60 may proceed to step 1512 toincrease the stage of the condenser system again and/or to step 1514.

At step 1514, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thecurrent evaporator fan setpoint of the evaporator fan (e.g., the speedat which the evaporator fan is currently operating, etc.) is greaterthan a minimum speed of the evaporator fan. At step 1516, the controller60 is configured to decrease the evaporator fan setpoint to reduce thespeed of the evaporator fan by a predefined decrease amount in responseto the evaporator fan operating at a speed greater than the minimumspeed of the evaporator fan to reduce the amount of liquid refrigerantconverted to gaseous refrigerant by the evaporator system. According toone embodiment, the predefined decrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a5%, a 10%, a 25%, etc. decrease of the evaporator fan speed setpoint,etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, decreasing the evaporatorfan setpoint decreases the capacity of the evaporator system (e.g., theamount of refrigerant the evaporator system is capable of convertingfrom liquid to gas, etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step1508 or proceed to method 1600 (e.g., if the defrost activation timerhas expired, etc.). If the decrease in the evaporator fan setpoint doesnot increase the level of the liquid refrigerant in the controlledpressure receiver, the controller 60 may proceed to step 1512 toincrease the stage of the condenser system again, to step 1516 todecrease the speed of the evaporator fan again, and/or to step 1518.

At step 1518, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thesuperheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve is less than amaximum superheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve. At step1520, the controller 60 is configured to increase the superheat setpointof the evaporator expansion valve by a predefined increase amount inresponse to the superheat value of the evaporator expansion valve beingless than the maximum superheat setpoint to reduce the amount of liquidrefrigerant that flows into the evaporator system from the controlledpressure receiver. According to one embodiment, the predefined increaseamount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%, etc. increase of theevaporator expansion valve superheat setpoint, etc.). The controller 60may then return to step 1508 or proceed to method 1600 (e.g., if thedefrost activation timer has expired, etc.). If the increase in thesuperheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve does not increasethe level of the liquid refrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver,the controller 60 may proceed to step 1512 to increase the stage of thecondenser system again, to step 1516 to decrease the speed of theevaporator fan again, to step 1520 to increase the superheat setpoint ofthe evaporator expansion valve again, and/or to step 1522. At step 1522,the controller 60 is configured to turn off the evaporator systemcurrently in the cooling mode (e.g., until the level of liquidrefrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver is within the liquidrefrigerant range, in response to the superheat setpoint reaching themaximum superheat setpoint, etc.). The controller 60 may then return tostep 1508 or proceed to method 1600 (e.g., if the defrost activationtimer has expired, etc.).

At step 1524, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thesuperheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve is greater than aminimum superheat setpoint of the evaporator expansion valve. At step1526, the controller 60 is configured to decrease the superheat setpointof the evaporator expansion valve by a predefined decrease amount inresponse to the superheat value of the evaporator expansion valve beinggreater than the minimum superheat setpoint to increase the amount ofliquid refrigerant that flows into the evaporator system from thecontrolled pressure receiver. According to one embodiment, thepredefined decrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a 25%,etc. decrease of the evaporator expansion valve superheat setpoint,etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step 1508 or proceed tomethod 1600 (e.g., if the defrost activation timer has expired, etc.).If the decrease in the superheat setpoint of the evaporator expansionvalve does not reduce the level of the liquid refrigerant in thecontrolled pressure receiver, the controller 60 may proceed to step 1526to decrease the superheat setpoint again and/or to step 1528.

At step 1528, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether thecurrent evaporator fan setpoint of the evaporator fan (e.g., the speedat which the evaporator fan is currently operating, etc.) is less than amaximum speed of the evaporator fan. At step 1530, the controller 60 isconfigured to increase the evaporator fan setpoint to increase the speedof the evaporator fan by a predefined increase amount in response to theevaporator fan operating at a speed less than the maximum speed of theevaporator fan to increase the amount of liquid refrigerant converted togaseous refrigerant by the evaporator system. According to oneembodiment, the predefined increase amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%,a 10%, a 25%, etc. increase of the evaporator fan speed setpoint, etc.).According to an exemplary embodiment, increasing the evaporator fansetpoint increases the capacity of the evaporator system (e.g., theamount of refrigerant the evaporator system is capable of convertingfrom liquid to gas, etc.). The controller 60 may then return to step1508 or proceed to method 1600 (e.g., if the defrost activation timerhas expired, etc.). If the increase in the evaporator fan setpoint doesnot reduce the level of the liquid refrigerant in the controlledpressure receiver, the controller 60 may proceed to step 1526 todecrease the superheat setpoint again, proceed to step 1530 to increasethe evaporator fan setpoint again, and/or to step 1532.

At step 1532, the controller 60 is configured to decrease the stage ofthe condenser system (e.g., decreasing the speed of the condenser fan144, decreasing the output flow rate of the fluid cooler 40, etc.) by apredefined decrease amount (e.g., until the condenser system has to beturned off, etc.) in response to the evaporator fan setpoint reachingthe maximum speed of the evaporator fan. According to one embodiment,the predefined decrease amount is a percentage (e.g., a 5%, a 10%, a25%, etc. decrease, of a condenser fan speed setpoint, of a flow rate ofa working cooling fluid such as glycol, etc.). The controller 60 maythen return to step 1508 or proceed to method 1600 (e.g., if the defrostactivation timer has expired, etc.). If the level of the liquidrefrigerant in the controlled pressure receiver is returned to withinthe desired liquid refrigerant level range, the controller 60 isconfigured to return to step 1302. It should be noted that thecontroller 60 may perform steps 1510-1522 and steps 1524-1532 is astepped manner (e.g., wait for the threshold value to be reached beforecontinuing to the subsequent step, etc.) or a serial manner (e.g.,increase/decrease the respective parameter then move to the subsequentstep and then move back to the beginning once each step has beenperformed, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 16, the controller 60 is configured to controloperation of the CES module during a defrost mode according to method1600. At step 1602, the controller 60 is configured to determine whetherthe defrost activation timer is equal to zero (e.g., expired, elapsed,etc.). By way of example, if the defrost activation time is equal tozero, the controller 60 may be configured to initiate a defrost mode ofthe evaporator system. At step 1604, the controller 60 is configured todetermine whether any other evaporator systems of the CES are in adefrost mode. If other evaporator systems of the CES are in the defrostmode, the defrost mode of the evaporator system may not be initiated andthe controller 60 may proceed to method 1700. At step 1606, thecontroller 60 is configured to determine whether the evaporator systemshould be operated in the defrost mode (e.g., the defrost activationtime is zero and no other evaporator systems are currently operating ina defrost mode, etc.). If the evaporator system is in the defrost mode,the controller 60 is configured to control the evaporator systemaccording to the defrost mode (steps 1608-1648), otherwise thecontroller 60 is configured to proceed to method 1700.

At step 1608, the controller 60 is configured to determine if theevaporator expansion valve is in a superheat control mode. If yes, thecontroller 60 is configured to close the evaporator inlet valve (step1610), close the evaporator expansion valve by setting the evaporatorexpansion valve to a closed mode (step 1612), and start an expansionvalve defrost countdown timer (step 1614). If no, the controller 60 isconfigured to proceed to step 1616. At step 1616, the controller 60 isconfigured to determine if the expansion valve defrost countdown timeris equal to zero. If yes, the controller 60 is configured to reset theexpansion valve countdown timer (step 1618), close the evaporator outletvalve (step 1620), and start an evaporator outlet valve defrostcountdown timer (step 1622). If no, the controller 60 is configured toproceed to step 1624. At step 1624, the controller 60 is configured todetermine if the evaporator outlet valve defrost countdown timer isequal to zero. If yes, the controller 60 is configured to reset theevaporator outlet valve defrost countdown timer (step 1626), open anevaporator inlet defrost valve (step 1628), open an evaporator outletdefrost valve and start a hot gas defrost countdown timer (step 1630).If no, the controller 60 is configured to proceed to step 1632. At step1632, the controller 60 is configured to determine if a hot gas defrostcountdown timer is equal to zero. If yes, the controller 60 isconfigured to reset the hot gas defrost countdown timer (step 1634),close the evaporator inlet defrost valve (step 1636), and start adefrost pumpdown timer (step 1638). If no, the controller 60 isconfigured to proceed to step 1640. At step 1640, the controller 60 isconfigured to determine if the defrost pumpdown timer is equal to zero.If yes, the controller 60 is configured to reset the defrost pumpdowntimer (step 1642), close the evaporator outlet defrost valve (step1644), reset the defrost activation timer (step 1646), and set theevaporator system to a ready mode (step 1648). The controller 60 maythen control the evaporator system according to Methods 1300, 1400,1500, and 1700 after the defrost sequence.

Referring now to FIG. 17, at step 1702, the controller 60 is configuredto determine an average liquid level in all active CPRs. At step 1704,the controller 60 is configured to determine whether the CES iscritically charged. If yes, the controller 60 is configured to set a CPRliquid level setpoint to the average liquid level of all active CPRs(step 1706). If no, the controller 60 is configured to set the CPRliquid level setpoint to a predetermined level (step 1708). At step1710, the controller 60 is configured to determine if a head pressurecountdown timer is equal to zero. If no, the controller 60 is configuredto return to step 1302. If yes, the controller 60 is configured todetermine if the condenser type is an air, an adiabatic, or anevaporative condenser (step 1712). If yes, the controller 60 isconfigured to proceed to step 1714. If no, the controller 60 isconfigured to proceed to step 1730.

At step 1714, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether asystem condensing pressure is greater than a minimum condensingpressure. At step 1716, the controller 60 is configured to decrease thestage of all condenser systems of the CES by a predetermined amount inresponse to the system condensing pressure being less than the minimum.At step 1718, the controller 60 is configured to reset the head pressurecountdown timer by a first predetermined value (e.g., two minutes, arelatively shorter time, etc.). At step 1720, the controller 60 isconfigured to start the head pressure countdown timer and then return tostep 1302. At step 1722, the controller 60 is configured to determine ifthe stage of a lead condenser of the CES (e.g., the condenser operatingat the highest stage, etc.) is less than a maximum stage of the leadcondenser in response to the system condensing pressure being greaterthan the minimum. If no, the controller 60 is configured to return tostep 1302. If yes, the controller 60 is configured to increase the stageof all condenser systems of the CES by a predetermined amount (step1724). At step 1726, the controller 60 is configured to reset the headpressure countdown timer by a second predetermined value (e.g., tenminutes, a relatively longer time, etc.). At step 1728, the controller60 is configured to start the head pressure countdown timer and thenreturn to step 1302.

At step 1730, the controller 60 is configured to determine whether asystem condensing pressure is greater than a minimum condensingpressure. At step 1732, the controller 60 is configured to determine ifthe stage of the lead condenser of the CES is equal to a maximum stageof the lead condenser in response to the system condensing pressurebeing greater than the minimum. If yes, the controller 60 is configuredto increase a stage of a central fluid cooler by a predetermined amount(step 1734). If no, the controller 60 is configured to decrease thestage of the central fluid cooler by a predetermined amount (step 1735).At step 1736, the controller 60 is configured to reset the head pressurecountdown timer by the second predetermined value (e.g., ten minutes,relatively longer time, etc.). At step 1738, the controller 60 isconfigured to start the head pressure countdown timer and then return tostep 1302. At step 1740, the controller 60 is configured to decrease thestage of the central fluid cooler by a predetermined amount in responseto the system condensing pressure being less than the minimum. At step1742, the controller 60 is configured to reset the head pressurecountdown timer by the first predetermined value (e.g., two minutes, arelatively shorter time, etc.). At step 1744, the controller 60 isconfigured to start the head pressure countdown timer and then return tostep 1302.

The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods as shown inthe various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only afew embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may bereversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discreteelements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method stepsmay be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and programproducts on any machine-readable media for accomplishing variousoperations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implementedusing existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computerprocessor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or anotherpurpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of thepresent disclosure include program products comprising machine-readablemedia for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example,such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROMor other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or storedesired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions ordata structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Combinationsof the above are also included within the scope of machine-readablemedia. Machine-executable instructions include, for example,instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform acertain function or group of functions.

Although the figures show a specific order of method steps, the order ofthe steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps maybe performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variationwill depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designerchoice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standardprogramming techniques with rule based logic and other logic toaccomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparisonsteps and decision steps.

Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in itsexclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list ofelements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in thelist. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, andZ,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood withthe context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may beeither X, Y, Z, X and Y, X and Z, Y and Z, or X, Y, and Z. Thus, suchconjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certainembodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at leastone of Z to each be present.

1. A decentralized condenser evaporator system fluidly coupled to acentralized compressor system of a refrigeration system, thedecentralized condenser evaporator system comprising: a condenser systempositioned to receive a compressed gaseous refrigerant from thecentralized compressor system, the condenser system configured tofacilitate modulating a mass of the compressed gaseous refrigerantcondensed into a liquid refrigerant; a controlled pressure receiverpositioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant condensed by thecondenser system; an evaporator system including: an evaporator conduitpositioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from an outlet conduit ofthe controlled pressure receiver; an evaporator expansion devicepositioned between the outlet conduit of the controlled pressurereceiver and the evaporator conduit, the evaporator expansion deviceconfigured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerantthat flows into the evaporator conduit from the controlled pressurereceiver; and an evaporator fan positioned to facilitate providing acooling operation to an area associated with the evaporator systemthrough evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through theevaporator conduit into an evaporated gaseous refrigerant while theevaporator system is being operated in a cooling mode; and a controllerconfigured to (i) control modulation of a stage of at least one of thecondenser system and the evaporator system to maintain a desired levelof the liquid refrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver of thedecentralized condenser evaporator system and (ii) facilitatemaintaining a system condensing pressure of the refrigeration system ata target system condensing pressure.
 2. The decentralized condenserevaporator system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator system includes aplurality of evaporator systems arranged in parallel with one another.3. The decentralized condenser evaporator system of claim 2, wherein afirst evaporator system and a second evaporator system are operableindependent of each other such that the first evaporator system and thesecond evaporator system are capable of being operated in a same mode ora different mode at the same time.
 4. The decentralized condenserevaporator system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator system is operablein one of the cooling mode, a standby mode, and a defrost mode.
 5. Thedecentralized condenser evaporator system of claim 4, wherein at least aportion of the compressed gaseous refrigerant is provided directly tothe evaporator system while the evaporator system is being operated inthe defrost mode.
 6. The decentralized condenser evaporator system ofclaim 5, wherein the evaporator system further includes: a liquid trappositioned along the evaporator conduit that is configured to gatherdefrost condensate refrigerant created during operation of theevaporator system in the defrost mode from the compressed gaseousrefrigerant flowing through the evaporator conduit; and an evaporatorreturn line positioned to fluidly couple the liquid trap to thecontrolled pressure receiver, the evaporator return line configured todirect the defrost condensate refrigerant to the controlled pressurereceiver.
 7. The decentralized condenser evaporator system of claim 1,wherein the condenser system includes at least one of an adiabaticcondenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporative condenser, a plateframe condenser, a shell and tube condenser, and a shell and platecondenser.
 8. The decentralized condenser evaporator system of claim 1,wherein the condenser system includes: a condenser conduit positioned toreceive the compressed gaseous refrigerant from the centralizedcompressor system; and a condenser fan positioned to facilitatecondensing at least a portion of the compressed gaseous refrigerantflowing through the condenser conduit provided by the centralizedcompressor system into the liquid refrigerant.
 9. The decentralizedcondenser evaporator system of claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to control a speed setpoint of the condenser fan toselectively adjust the stage of the condenser system, and thereby acapacity of the condenser system.
 10. The decentralized condenserevaporator system of claim 1, wherein the condenser system is fluidlycoupled to a centralized fluid cooler configured to provide a cooledworking fluid to the condenser system to facilitate condensing thecompressed gaseous refrigerant.
 11. The decentralized condenserevaporator system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured tocontrol a flow rate of the cooled working fluid provided by thecentralized fluid cooler to selectively adjust the stage of thecondenser system, and thereby a capacity of the condenser system.
 12. Adecentralized condenser evaporator system fluidly coupled to acentralized compressor system, the decentralized condenser evaporatorsystem comprising: a condenser system positioned to receive a compressedgaseous refrigerant from the centralized compressor system, thecondenser system configured to condense the compressed gaseousrefrigerant into a liquid refrigerant; a controlled pressure receiverpositioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant condensed by thecondenser system; and an evaporator system positioned to receive theliquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver, the evaporatorsystem configured to facilitate providing a cooling operation to acooling zone associated with the evaporator system through evaporationof the liquid refrigerant flowing through the evaporator system into anevaporated gaseous refrigerant; wherein a stage of at least one of thecondenser system and the evaporator system is selectively controllableto facilitate at least one of (i) maintaining a desired level of theliquid refrigerant within the controlled pressure receiver and (ii)providing a desired amount of cooling to the cooling zone.
 13. Thedecentralized condenser evaporator system of claim 12, wherein theevaporator system includes: an evaporator conduit positioned to receivethe liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver; a valvepositioned between the controlled pressure receiver and the evaporatorconduit, the valve configured to facilitate modulating an amount of theliquid refrigerant that flows into the evaporator conduit from thecontrolled pressure receiver; and a fan positioned to facilitateproviding an airflow across the evaporator conduit to cool the airflowto provide the cooling operation to the cooling zone associated with theevaporator system.
 14. The decentralized condenser evaporator system ofclaim 13, further comprising a controller configured to control asetpoint of at least one of (i) the valve and (ii) the fan toselectively modulate the stage of the evaporator system, and thereby acapacity of the evaporator system to aid in at least one of (i)maintaining the desired level of the liquid refrigerant within thecontrolled pressure receiver and (ii) providing the desired amount ofcooling to the cooling zone.
 15. A refrigeration system, comprising: acentralized compressor system configured to compress an evaporatedgaseous refrigerant into a compressed gaseous refrigerant; and aplurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systems fluidly coupledto the centralized compressor system, each of the plurality ofdecentralized condenser evaporator systems associated with a respectivecooling zone, wherein each of the plurality of decentralized condenserevaporator systems includes: a condenser system positioned to receivethe compressed gaseous refrigerant from the centralized compressorsystem, the condenser system configured to condense the compressedgaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant; a controlled pressurereceiver positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerantcondensed by the condenser system; and an evaporator system positionedto receive the liquid refrigerant from an outlet conduit of thecontrolled pressure receiver, the evaporator system configured tofacilitate providing a cooling operation to the respective cooling zoneassociated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquidrefrigerant flowing through the evaporator system into the evaporatedgaseous refrigerant; and a controller configured to: control modulationof a stage of at least one of the condenser system and the evaporatorsystem to (i) maintain a desired level of the liquid refrigerant withinthe controlled pressure receiver of each of the plurality ofdecentralized condenser evaporator systems, (ii) provide a desiredamount of cooling to the respective cooling zone of each of theplurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systems, and (iii)maintain a system condensing pressure of the refrigeration system at atarget condensing pressure.
 16. The refrigeration system of claim 15,wherein the evaporator system of at least one of the plurality ofdecentralized condenser evaporator systems includes a plurality ofevaporator systems arranged in parallel with one another.
 17. Therefrigeration system of claim 15, wherein the evaporator system of atleast one of the plurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systemsincludes: an evaporator conduit positioned to receive the liquidrefrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver via the outlet conduitof the controlled pressure receiver; a valve positioned between theoutlet conduit of the controlled pressure receiver and the evaporatorconduit, the valve configured to facilitate modulating an amount of theliquid refrigerant that flows into the evaporator conduit from thecontrolled pressure receiver; and a fan positioned to facilitateproviding an airflow across the evaporator conduit to cool the airflowto provide the cooling operation to the respective cooling zoneassociated with the evaporator system; wherein the controller isconfigured to control a setpoint of at least one of (i) the valve and(ii) the fan to selectively modulate the stage of the evaporator system,and thereby a capacity of the evaporator system to aid in maintainingthe desired level of the liquid refrigerant within the controlledpressure receiver and providing the desired amount of cooling to therespective cooling zone.
 18. The refrigeration system of claim 15,wherein the condenser system of at least one of the plurality ofdecentralized condenser evaporator systems includes: a condenser conduitpositioned to receive the compressed gaseous refrigerant from thecentralized compressor system; and a fan positioned to facilitateproviding an airflow across the condenser conduit to condense at least aportion of the compressed gaseous refrigerant flowing through thecondenser conduit provided by the centralized compressor system into theliquid refrigerant; wherein the controller is configured to control asetpoint of the fan to selectively modulate the stage of the condensersystem, and thereby a capacity of the condenser system to aid inmaintaining the desired level of the liquid refrigerant within thecontrolled pressure receiver.
 19. The refrigeration system of claim 15,further comprising a centralized fluid cooler configured to provide acooled working fluid to the condenser system of at least one of theplurality of decentralized condenser evaporator systems to facilitatecondensing the compressed gaseous refrigerant, wherein the controller isconfigured to control a flow rate of the cooled working fluid providedby the centralized fluid cooler to selectively modulate the stage of thecondenser system, and thereby a capacity of the condenser system to aidin maintaining the desired level of the liquid refrigerant within thecontrolled pressure receiver.
 20. The refrigeration system of claim 19,wherein the controller is configured to control of a stage of thecentralized fluid cooler to facilitate condensing a desired amount ofthe compressed gaseous refrigerant for each of the decentralizedcondenser evaporator systems.